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While Christmas at Artscape may bring to mind images of ‘The Nutcracker’ danced to Tchaikovsky’s classic score, this year Capetonians will be transported to Victorian London as Oliver Twist and his cast of ruffians take to the stage.
Presented by Pieter Toerien and Cape Town Opera, Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Oliver! will open at Artscape Opera House on 11 December 2026, bringing one of musical theatre’s greatest crowd-pleasers to the Mother City just in time for the holidays.
Tickets are already on sale via Webtickets, priced between R220 and R620.
Based on Charles Dickens’ classic tale ‘Oliver Twist’, the Lionel Bart musical follows young Oliver as he escapes the brutal workhouse and finds himself on the streets of Victorian London, where he meets Fagin, Nancy, Bill Sikes and the Artful Dodger.
It’s a story with plenty of grit beneath its singalong charm, but Oliver! remains best known for its big-hearted musical numbers, including ‘Food, Glorious Food’, ‘Consider Yourself’ and ‘Reviewing the Situation’.
Oliver! has serious stage pedigree, too. Lionel Bart’s musical first premiered at London’s Wimbledon Theatre in 1960 before transferring to the West End, where it ran for 2618 performances. It opened on Broadway in 1963, where it picked up three Tony Awards, while the 1968 film adaptation went on to win six Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
More than six decades later, the show remains one of musical theatre’s most enduring family favourites, regularly revived on major stages around the world.
The Cape Town season is directed by Steven Stead, and the production promises detailed period costumes, large-scale choreography, South African musical theatre talent, and a cast of children to bring Dickens’ London to life on the Artscape stage.
It also arrives in what is turning out to be a busy year for Cape Town theatre and live entertainment.
Cape Town Opera brings Carmen to Artscape from 19 to 31 May 2026, while the Jive Cape Town Funny Festival returns to the Baxter Theatre from 28 May to 21 June. For family-friendly spectacle, Disney On Ice: Mickey’s Search Party skates into the Grand Arena at GrandWest from 10 to 19 July.
After the Cape Town season, Oliver! will transfer to The Teatro at Montecasino in Johannesburg.
Oliver!: Need to know
When: Oliver! runs at the Artscape Opera House from 11 December 2026 until 17 January 2027.
Tickets: Cost R220 to R620
Bookings: Are open now through Webtickets. Advance booking is recommended.
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