Old Vic Theatre

The theatre that began life as a music hall, a notorious drinking den, a temperance tavern and an opera house went on to become the home of great acting, dance, musical extravaganzas, vaudeville and spectacle. Many of our great actors have appeared here, including Laurence Olivier, Sybil Thorndike, John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson. Others, like Judi Dench, Michael Gambon and Maggie Smith first made their names here. Olivier led the first National Theatre Company at The Old Vic and independence, integrity and a fighting spirit have permeated throughout The Old Vic’s history as it has triumphed over adversity when faced with bankruptcy, fires, bombing during the Second World War and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Old Vic celebrated its 200th birthday in 2018 with a major bicentenary season, which included starry revivals of Arthur Miller's All My Sons , Noël Coward's Present Laughter and an acclaimed adaptation of A Christmas Carol , which returns to the theatre every year for the festive season.

The last two centuries have seen The Old Vic take on many identities but throughout this time one element has endured; an unwavering determination to remain a beacon of hope, entertainment, education, solace and inspiration with a social mission to be a force for good. 

Seating

For the best overall view of the stage and a guarantee of no restrictions, sit in the mid-front of the Stalls The best rows are E-L. Alternatively, rows A-D of the Dress Circle offer a great panoramic view of the stage.

For good value seats sit in the back two "restricted view" rows of the Stalls for a clear view of the stage without obstruction, or try the Lilian Baylis Circle for some potential bargains.

Facilities

Not attending a show? The Old Vic is open all week for a drink and a snack, whether you have a ticket for one of the shows or not.  There is a DAYTIME CAFE, open Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm, serving hot drinks and pastries and on a Saturday from 5pm (12pm on matinee days). There is also a LATE NIGHT basement bar ‘Penny’ is open after a show until 12am Mon–Wed and 2am Thu–Sat and  is fully accessible via the lift. The Old Vic Theatre has a cloakroom and has air conditioning. 

Access

The theatre is wheelchair accessible, with ramps and lift access throughout. There are 10 wheelchair spaces in the stalls, as well as 10 companion spaces. Toilets in the Penny Bar and Café are easily accessible from the Stalls and a fully adapted unisex toilet is located by the alternative entrance, with support handrails in place. There’s also a third located by the auditorium. Assistance dogs are welcome and for people with hearing or visual impairments, there are captioned and audio-described performances, as well as relaxed performances. Further information available HERE.

The Old Vic Theatre is currently home to The Brightening Air until 14 June 2025

Venue details