The Old Vic

General information

‘Something extraordinary has happened at The Old Vic’
Dominic Cavendish, The Telegraph

The Old Vic is London’s independent not-for-profit theatre, a world leader in creativity and entertainment.

Today, Artistic Director Matthew Warchus is building on 200 years of creative adventure, with The Old Vic recently being hailed as ‘London’s most eclectic and frequently electrifying theatre’.

The Old Vic is mercurial: it can transform into a theatre in the round, a space for music and comedy, has played host to opera, dance, cinema, music hall, classical dramas, variety, clowns, big spectacles and novelty acts. It was the original home of the English National Opera, the Sadler’s Wells dance company and the National Theatre. It’s also been a tavern, a college, a coffee house, a lecture hall and a meeting place.

All of this is now in the bones of the building and is as important a part of its open-armed, inclusive, welcoming personality as its grand historic decor and the iconic performances and famous productions it has housed.

We hope to be a surprising, unpredictable, ground-breaking, rule-breaking, independent beacon of accessible, uplifting and unintimidating art.

We hold the belief that theatre needs to be supported, shared and upheld for as many people as possible. Our 1000 seats are yours from £10 a ticket. Our productions are diverse, adventurous, new, epic, exciting. Our education and talent programmes allow students to explore and artists of tomorrow to create. Our building is open and alive day and night. Our theatre is yours.

So, whether you’re looking for a comedy or new musical, a dramatic work or dance performance, a £10 preview, a late-night pint or a show you can watch together as a family. There is always something new to entertain at The Old Vic.