Lionel Bart’s musical masterpiece freely adapted from Charles Dickens' novel, Oliver! tells the story of the orphaned Oliver Twist, who escapes the harsh Victorian workhouse and ventures into the streets of London. There, he encounters a cast of colourful characters, including the Artful Dodger, the villainous Fagin, the kind-hearted Nancy, and the menacing Bill Sikes. As Oliver navigates a world filled with danger and deception, all he seeks is love, family, and a place to call home. The musical includes some of theatre's most loved songs, including; ‘Food Glorious Food’, ‘Consider Yourself’, ‘You’ve Got to Pick-a-Pocket or Two’, ‘I’d Do Anything’, ‘Oom Pah Pah’, and the heartbreaking ‘As Long As He Needs Me’ and many more, as the Olivier, Tony and Oscar-winning masterpiece vividly brings to life Dickens’ ever-popular story of the boy who asked for more.
The cast includes Simon Lipkin as Fagin, Shanay Holmes as Nancy, Aaron Sidwell as Bill Sikes, Billy Byers as the Artful Dodger and Philip Franks as Mr Brownlow.
Oliver! delivers exactly what it promises: a classic story accompanied by irresistible tunes which make you want to dance, sing, laugh and cry and by the end of the evening feeling as though you would do anything for Oliver, Nancy, Fagin, and all of the gang. The production is stunning, the set design, costuming, and singing all breathtaking, with an amazing set of performances, from lead roles right through to strong supporting turns and an energetic chorus.
Brilliantly leading the gang of reprobates is the magnificent Simon Lipkin as ‘Fagin’ who comes across as surprisingly conscientious, and irresistibly charismatic. He gives an outstanding performance throughout, delivering not only Bart’s lines but a veritable feast of ad-libs, even turning his piercing gaze on the audience. Shannay Holmes is also as equally impressive as Nancy with her powerful performance of 'As Long As He Needs Me’ . And not forgetting Billy Jenkins’s who is an excellent Artful Dodger with his cheeky-chappie swagger and dynamic moves, leading huge ensemble routines with boundless amounts of energy.
Moreover, and perhaps most importantly for a musical, the songs never fail. Oliver! boasts an impressive quantity of well-known numbers, from ‘Food, Glorious Food’ to ‘I’d Do Anything’. The cast and orchestra are pitch perfect and the songs are excellent. Oliver! really is a gem amongst British musicals and is a must for family audiences.
Oliver! is currently playing at the Gielgud Theatre until 29 March 2026
Details
- Address:
- Gielgud Theatre
- W1D 6AR
- Contact:
- https://oliverthemusical.com/
- Transport:
- Railway station: Charing Cross Bus numbers: (Shaftesbury Avenue) 12, 14, 19, 38; (Regent Street) 6, 13, 15, 23, 88, 94, 139, 159, 453