What a fantastic venue! We went to see "A Christmas Carol" play at this theater and the production was just perfect. The stage was located in the middle with the audience sitting all around it. It felt like we were part of the play. It was nothing like the theaters in the US. We loved it. Can't wait to be back in London and see another play at the Old Vic! read more

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Love The Old Vic! It oozes history and class. The interior decor is stunning and the exterior looks pretty swell too especially when lit up at night. I was so excited to be there for one of the previews of 'Other Desert Cities' and curious as to how that would work with the theatre having just been reconfigured to 'in the round'. It actually worked very well, and while we in the upper level, I can imagine it would be particularly interesting to be in the seats that were vitrually part of the set. I think I spied Melvin Bragg Down there. Who-ever it was he seemed to enjoy the show as much as us. OK perhaps it wasn't what I would call must-see theatre but it had a little something for everyone, and despite its dark nature in places, we had plenty of knowing belly laughs too. Since press night its been garnering a solid four stars. Perhaps because the show was in preview we were able to bag reasonably priced tickets at the box office direct. The staff were very friendly and helpful when we popped in the day before to check on availability. If there was a down-side it was that the seats were uncomfortable and the leg room very cramped, and thats coming from someone who is just 5ft & 2 inches! My companion had another foot on me and found the cramped seating a distraction from the show. Perhaps the more expensive seats are more comfortable. Wish everywhere had seats as cosy and roomy as The National Theatre! Conveniently located just along the road from Waterloo station for tube, rail and taxis. read more

Old Vic - old vic theatre waterloo - Performing Arts Near Me - London, XGL

The Old Vic is a pretty large well known theatre in Southwark. I went to see Jekyll & Hyde which was a brilliant caste and dance production with....oh hello... a bit of nudity thrown in. We had pretty decent central seats not far from the stage so didn't have any audible/visual problems. Like lots of theatre's the seats are quite narrow with little leg room. If you are the type of person that needs regular toilet breaks sit at the end of the row as everyone has to stand up to let you pass in and out. After a while it feels like your doing the Mexican Wave all the time which is why you get lots of people standing in the aisles waiting for the middle seated people to sit down. I didn't visit the bars so can't report on that. The lobby is quite pretty to look at and spacious enough not to get squashed into the theatre-goer traffic near the entrance. Afterwards the show caste were happy to chat and take pictures at the front of the building which was nice. Definitely recommend a visit. read more

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The Old Vic is a lovely old theater that puts on some classics and modern productions. I went to see Pygmalion, the Bernard Shaw play that was adapted for My Fair Lady. The highlight was being able to get tickets for under 25s for only 10 pounds for any show, under the Aditya Mittal scheme. These can be booked any time, but need to be picked up on the day of the performance from the box office with proof of age. There are not many of these seats available, and they make up the front row. Although you are looking up directly at the performers, being so close to the stage is a wonderful experience. The Old Vic is large and very spacious, so you will certainly find seats elsewhere for a fun theatrical evening. read more

Old Vic - Performing Arts Near Me - London, XGL

Just imagine going to a play in one of the icons of theatre. When you realize who walked those stairs before you (and yes, they do have some pictures of that next to the stairs ;-)) you feel almost humble and grateful that you are allowed to be there :-) I, with a group from Meetup, saw Kim Cattrall and Seth Numrich in a Tennessee William's play called 'Sweet Bird of Youth' and loved it. We did have restricted view seats, if you decide to take those, you can trust on that being true, so be carefull! ;-) Drinks are best to be enjoyed in the downstairs bar where even the casts setteled once the whole thing was done for the night! What a night! read more

Old Vic - Performing Arts Near Me - London, XGL

The Old Vic is a very pretty theatre inside and out, and is spread over three floors. It is quite long so if you are sitting upstairs in the Dress Circle or Lilian Baylis Circle, you are quite far from the stage, as you do not overhang the stall as much, the whole section wraps around the side and right at the back of the stalls, so can feel quite far away, but a good view from the centre seats. There are some restricted views due to pillars in the way. The middle of the stalls is properly the better seats, you do not have to look up if you are too close to the stage and if you are directly under the overhang of the circle, your view will be restricted. Cannot comment on the top floor, Lilian Baylis Circle as not sat there before, as prefer to be nearer the stage. Has a lovely bar in the basement, and more Ladies than most theatres and quite decent too. read more

Old Vic - So pretty lit up for The Lorax - Performing Arts Near Me - London, XGL

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I came here once to see Amadeus. It was one of my first times to go to the theatre in London and it was a fantastic experience. It was starring David Suchet as Salieri (the actor that plays inspector Poirot) and he was exceptional. The young guy and girl that played Mozart and Constanze did a great job too. The Old Vic is a great theatre. read more

Old Vic - Performing Arts Near Me - London, XGL

They've just transformed the Old Vic into a theatre in the round for The Norman Conquests, three plays written by Alan Ayckbourn, each using the same six characters but different settings with some scenes overlapping. But you don't have to watch all of them or in any particular order. I watched Table Manners, which resulted in a biscuit tin being thrown across the table almost at me but landing next to someone else, and a glass of water that was thrown at one character but also across the other side of the crowd! Hilarious! The theatre is charming. It is small and intimate but still able to hold a decent crowd. It's located at Waterloo, on the national rail, the tube, and many buses. There are heaps of pubs and restaurants around where you can continue your night out. read more

Old Vic - Performing Arts Near Me - London, XGL

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I went to see Groundhog day at the Old Vic this week. Its a really fun show, I would recommend it. We bought tickets on the day, so had seats with an impacted view. They were behind a pole, however we could still see the show, and didn't feel it impacted on our experience at all. Its a really beautiful theatre. read more

The Old Vic is one of my favourite theatres in London. Like the Royal Court theatre, it puts on some stirling productions. I've seen many productions at this theatre over the years. Despite not being in the West End it is an easy theatre to get to. I'ts situated on The Cut, a road Just a few hundred metres from Waterloo Station. It was akso the home to The National Theatre company under the directorship of Lord (Laurence) Olivier from 1963, until they moved to their own purpose built home on the South Bank in 1976. It also had Kevin Spacey do a spell as Artitstic Director for acouple of years. It is a really attractive theatre with comfortable seats wherever you are positioned. It's a rare theatre in London to have ample bar facilities, with a bar on ever floor. It has a great bar in the basement, which I like to go to post show. Getting in and out of the auditorium is easier than at most West End theatres. It really is a great venue with great productions. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars, is that at a recent production, I was has an aisle seat close to the front of the cirle. There was a safety barrier at the bottom of the stairs, which meant I had to keep moving my head to catch the action on stage. read more

Musically great, it definitely has the Tim Mitchin's touch all over! I particularly like the jazzy bits. The plot is really well done, if you have watched the original film thou shall not be disappointed in the least! I don't think I'd like to say anything else as don't want to spoil it. Perhaps I would have shortened it by 15-20 minutes (10 minutes each part). read more

I saw As You Like It here today. Production was well done. Good audience and beautiful old theater. I'm no expert, so I'll leave it at that. :) If you're under 26 years old, there are discounted tickets available. My front row seat was £12! I can't get over what an amazing deal that is. read more

This review was for "Playboy of the Western World" at the Old Vic Story: Robert Sheehan is a man who has just killed his father. Panicked and worn from his travels, he stops by a tavern and reveals his deed to a group of locals who look at him in awe of the deed and by which he is revered as a strong and corageous individual without any of the connotations that normally follow the idea of a murderer. Ruth Negga is the barhand who happens to give him shelter in exchange for protection but things get complicated when the father who Sheenhan has supposedly killed comes back from the dead for vengeance. Cast: The actors were superb. I had no idea who any of the cast were, but discovered that many had main experience in television. It didn't show as the leads absolutely held their own with engaging performances that made the audience laugh throughout. The musical intervals were also well thought, if a little unintelligible due to the heavy irish accents. If english was not your first language, it would be a struggle to capture every word. Negga, was brilliant, but the irish accent she put on slipped at times which was a little funny but well covered for. Lighting and set: I must laud particular praise on the lighting which was the best I've ever seen in theatre. They way it adapted to every single scene, sunrise, sunset, daybreak, indoor, night, mid-morning was perfect. I actually felt I was outside at times the wamth of the sun felt that real. This really helped me feel immersed in the play. Overall, the play was extremely enjoyable and entertaning. I left feeling like i could have watched it again which is always a good feeling after seeing a play or musical. That there was so much done with the little material on the table, highlights how well written the direction was. This isn't an A star theatre show, but it's most definitely worth the visit. We were sat right at the back, but the views from anywhere are sublime at the Old Vic read more

The Old Vic is an absolutely gorgeous theatre. It's a beautiful building with a fabulous bar underneath and at night it is lit up very prettily. I've seen many productions here over the years but this week I went to see Groundhog Day - the musical written by Tim Minchin - he of Matilda and funny songs fame. No, it wasn't the same song played over and over, again and again. As Phil Connors, played excellently here by Andy Karl, is forced to relive the same day for eternity in small town Punxsutawney, his state of mind changes and so do the songs he sings. His performance as the flawed TV weatherman was fantastic, Rita his producer and love interest was a-ok but the script didn't really let her shine. The real star was the staging though. It was cute and adorably low-fi in places with remote control vans and men in black pushing tiny cars around the stage, but in parts of the show there was really wizardry - Phil disappears from the stage, only to wake up instantaneously in his Groundhog Day bed and breakfast bedroom from hell on another part of the stage - pure magic. The show takes us on Phil's journey day after day after day and shows us all that we should make the most of every second we have. I'd thoroughly recommend it. Music wise, there are brilliant Michinesque songs such as one where Phil seeks every kind of help from every kind of quack, convinced he is going crazy (you hear L Ron Hubbard rhyme with cupboard!). Also I love the way Tim Minchin takes the background characters and thrusts them into the spot light with their own song, as he does with one at the start of the second half. My only criticism was I frequently couldn't make out the lyrics amongst the background music and chorus - which meant quite a number of funny lines were drowned out and missed. I would however say there was only one stand out track on the soundtrack - Seeing You - it will give you goose bumps. Thoroughly recommend this show, it's funny, philosophical and dark - do go if you get a chance to see it in its run at the Old Vic until 17th September. read more

This is really a fun theater! I saw Kevin Spacey perform in Inherit the Wind a few years ago with a school group and I loved it. The theater is great and the performance was even better. I loved every moment (but this could contribute to the fact that I was in the second row, middle, in front of KS). If anyone knows the production of Inherit the Wind, they know it's a great performance to see. Everyone did a superb job in their roles. Even the town extras were very believable and coming from someone who sat dead center way in front, noticing every movement, that really says something. One of the best parts of the night was going down to the Old Vic bar attached to the theater. My friends and I decided to go down there to catch a glimpse of some of the cast members (not really looking to talk to them, just be around them). One of them came up to us right away and asked us how his American accent was and we complimented him and had a great time joking around and stuff. Then he went over to Kevin Spacey and must have told him about us because he walked over to our group and started chatting with us! Totally casual, really cool dude. Only a few minutes of conversation and then went back to his buddies. It was really great to interact with some of the cast members and have them be so friendly to their audience. I don't know if this is how it was for everyone, but we had an all around great experience there. I can't imagine any of the shows being less than adequate due to the clear dedication they all have for acting. The theater, bar and people were all great. Try to check out a show here if you're in London! read more

I saw Richard III here with Kevin Spacey, and it was amazing. We had excellent seats in the stalls. I wasn't sure to expect with Kevin Spacey, but I shouldn't have been worried. I quickly learned that Kevin Spacey is an amazing theatre actor. The first half kinda dragged on, but Kevin Spacey really shined in the second half. But I digress, this review really should be about Old Vic. As a venue it is pretty good, but honestly I feel it could be better. It's annoying how cramped the entry area is before, after and during intermissions... But, as that is my only complaint, the Old Vic gets 4 stars! boom. read more

SO. FRACKKING. HOT. I was lucky enough to see "Inherit the Wind" (Spacey!) and "Six Degrees of Seperation" (Giles!) in the last few months; both extremely well designed, acted and thought provoking play. Our seats in the top circle were fine and offered a great view of the whole theatre. The Pit bar was a bit disappointing as they did a very uninteresting 2 for 1 promotion (beers and wine, bleurgh) and only after the play with a poorly worded print out. They also take their time serving, not good when you are in a rush to get back! The only thing is to remember to wear your skimpiest clothing to the Old Vic. Man it is TROPICAL! But once you stripped down to your bikini; the plays are absolutely top notched. Buy early to avoid disappointments. With Kevin Spacey's amazing connections I won't be surprised if all the plays they put on are star studded. read more

I love this theatre! There's so much history within the walls, some of the greatest actors ever perfoming on the stage. I went to see another tsuperb play performed extremely well. Sweet Bird of Youth is coming to the end of its run but has been a definite success in my book. So strange to see Kim Cattrall not playing Samantha Jones a la Sex in the City with her legs in the air (don't get me wrong, serious guilty pleasure of mine. The programme, that is). But here she was vulnerable, frightened and did Liverpool proud. Kick ass girl :) £12 tickets in the gods, definitely worth it. No need for anything more expensive, you got the full experience for that price. read more

Came here on Friday night to watch Kevin Spacey play Clarence Darrow in 'Clarence Darrow'. The theater itself is eclectic and quaint in comparison to the massive theaters you see in the official theater district of Paris. Its a bit run down, but I suppose that is what makes it charming. The theater was built in 1818 and Kevin Spacey has been its artistic director since 2004. He has been working hard to keep the theater going and get it some well deserved media attention. FYI- Kevin Spacey is amazing in 'Clarence Darrow'. read more

What a stunning theatre! I watched kiss me kate and fortune's fool here and luckily seated in the stalls. Before the show begins, have a look up and enjoy the gorgeous decor. They have a really nice bar downstairs and a little champagne booth as soon as you walk in. Kiss me kate was such a brilliant show. It took a while for me to immerse myself into but it was so entertaining full of laughs and cast was so talented. Fortune's fools - couldn't help thinking of Game of Thrones watching Ser Jorah on stage but it was a really good show. It takes a while to understand the context of the story but really well done and clever use of the set. read more

What a lovely theater....yes I'm a Yank, what of it? There's another Yank here, at the Old Vic, name of Kevin Spacey. You may have heard of him. Fabulous actor, one of the best. His 'Inherit the Wind' will reside happily in my memory forever. As will each and every visit I make to this lovely building, packed to the gills as it usually is. Such a lovely event, coming here. Enjoy! read more

As someone who is very fortunate to be under 26* during the time that I'm spending in London, I find that theatre is especially accessible because the Old Vic, among many other theatres, have special discounts to reach out to the younger theatregoing crowd. Not only are the ticket prices set at £12, you sometimes get REALLY great seats. For example, during Clarence Darrow, we were literally TWO FEET AWAY from Kevin Spacey. Front row. Floor. Circle. It really cannot get better than that. One of the top theatre experiences of my life so far. But in an attempt to review the venue and not the productions... the Old Vic constantly attracts very high-profile stars like Vanessa Redgrave and James Earl Jones at the end of last year, and this year, Kevin Spacey and Richard Armitage. It is a cozy theatre venue - the room is actually very long, with seats on all sides of the stage, depending on the staging of the particular production. We were lucky enough to also get tickets for The Crucible (which is still playing - IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET, GO!!!) If I had the time and forethought to book in advance, it would be interesting to see the same production twice from different angles. The Pit Bar is okay. They have a really strict policy of ceasing service a few minutes before the show starts, so it's kind of a bummer if you've waited patiently the whole time only to be denied. It's a typical theatre bar, nothing to write home about. The Old Vic gets 5 stars from me for its mission to make great theatre accessible to broke-ass grad students like me. I want to come back as much as I can before I move back to the US. *I know that the website and brochures advertise it as the "PWC Under 25" club, but in reality you can still get it if you're still 25 :) read more

I'm loving the new theatre-in-the-round setting! I came here to see Kevin Spacey's Darrow, and since I grabbed a last minute single ticket, I was able to get a rare open spot in the front row. The stage for this play consisted of just a desk and a tiny bit of space around it, so I was within a few feet of Kevin Spacey the whole time. He even squeezed himself onto our bench at some point :) Beautiful theatre, comfy cushioned bench seating, and an amazingly immersive experience. Exceeded my expectations! read more

Kevin Spacey is a hero. His efforts to keep this gorgeous theatre alive and kicking are much appreciated. This is a wonderful theatre for catching great performances. And it's super to have such a world class venue removed from the West End and South Bank scenes. I saw the Old Vic's production of "Inherit the Wind" and was as impressed with the feel of the space as much as with the play. I found the seats and leg room a lot more comfy than what I've grown used to at most London theatres. read more

On many theatre trips the actual building that houses the action is largely incidental. This cannot be said of a visit to the Old Vic, which is a pleasure in itself, however much you rate the performance! There is a really magical atmosphere at this historic venue, which makes you want to make an effort and enjoy the occasion. I love the ornate architecture at the front of the theatre in particular. My only gripe here is the scarce provision of ladies loos it's one of a very small number of London venues where I've simply said 'sod it' and marched into the gents out of desperation read more

Went to see Kevin Spacey in Clarence Darrow. He performed in the round which was a really interesting experience. Great show, amazing theatre with reasonable ticket and bar pricing. Highly recommended, especially for students and local residents - be sure to check for discounted tickets! read more

We saw Arthur Miller's Resurrection Blues here, and had a really wonderful time. I especially enjoyed our center balcony seats (thank you old people who decided not to come at the last minute so we could score tickets!). I also liked drinking beer during the show. Two enthusiastic thumbs up!! Ha! read more

I saw a preview performance of Joe Sutton's Complicit, starring Richard Dreyfuss. The production is directed by Kevin Spacey. The play is staged in the round. The story is thought provoking, and it does make you wonder what you would do under those circumstances. read more

Amazing! I love the Old Vic. I've enjoyed all the productions here during my stay in London.

Classic, intimate and masterful - The Old Vic has never failed to impress me. I remember firsrt watching 'The Woman in Black' there many years ago and I was astounded. London has a wealth of theatre's available to the public - but you gradually learn that they're are those few classics that always house the very best of the Performing Arts and The Old Vic is definitely one of them. read more

A Grade II listed building, The Old Vic is a beautiful theatre, making it a fabulous experience, regardless of whatever is on. I saw Kevin Spacey, Eve Best and Colm Meany in A Moon for the Misbegotten. We managed to get tickets for a tenner, not bad considering the star cast, and although we didn't have the best seats in the house, we could see enough to enjoy the play. Which, by the way, was amazing. Spacey performed in his usual, flamboyant style, but Eve Best really took the show. I keep meaning to return but haven't got round to it. With consistently quality plays with a brilliantly chosen cast, not to mention cheap tickets, I'm not sure why I haven't made more of an effort. The Pitt bar below the Old Vic provides food and drinks, albeit slightly expensive. The location of the Old Vic, being so close to Waterloo and the South Bank, mean there are multiple choices of bars and Restaurants close by. I had dinner and wine before the show with a friend, we ended up losing track of time and missed the start of the show. So be organised, or eat close by. read more

Saw Kevin Spacey perform Richard III and it was amazing. Even with standing room only seats for about $15, I got pushed to an open seat by an usher (these seats were going for $200 and all sold out). Simple but excellent stage and the cast, lighting, etc was superb. Highly recommend the Old Vic and Shakespeare's the Globe Theater when in London read more

Just saw my 10th play at the Old Vic last night (Other Desert Cities) and thought it deserved a review. It's one of my favourite theatres in London and not just because it's so close to my flat. I like the range of plays that they put on and while they vary in my enjoyment (Kiss Me Kate at the top of the list with Much Ado About Nothing being a bit disappointing) I'm always excited to see what's going to be on next. The recent change to the round format was really impressive and I love the layout of the bars for pre-theatre and interval drinks. read more

This is the most wonderful theatre that I have ever been in. I know they have great seasons with big name stars. Which brings in the public but really the fact this venue is so wonderful it really doesn't need all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. You should just pop in during the day time and have a look at the foyer and then nip down stairs to the Pit bar. read more

The theatre was wonderful - an intimate venue which had an old traditional feel to it. No wonder Hollywood royalty have got involved! I felt like I was in an old white prison as I walked up to the top and even with paint peeling off the wall and creaky doors - it just felt old and added to the feel of the place. Brilliant - an institution and must be visited! read more

Beautiful old and intimate theatre. Good toilets, and bars. My seats (dress circle 9) was cheap due to pole in view but would have been fine- I actually got to sit next in d8 as it was space- and the view was great. Would love to see other plays here. read more

This place is worth the visit if only to experience the whole theater in the round concept in action. The audience sit in a full circle around the stage which runs across the middle. This means that if the direction is good, you get proper, 360 degree acting, which is a bewildering and impressive experience. Its not a big, showy venue like others in the city, but it cuts to the heart of what theater should be about, which comes across in the works one tends to find there. read more

This is a theatre close to my heart. It first came to my attention with all the media fuss over Kevin Spacey becoming artistic director in 2002 (but don't let that put you off!). It's situated near the South Bank and virtually next door to Waterloo station. I've been to see 5 or 6 shows in the last few years and thoroughly enjoyed them all. This is one of the most historically important theatres we have, with Geilgud, Dame Judy Dench and Larry Olivier having worked here. A wonderful theatre, with excellent transport links, but in a slightly down at heel neighbourhood. read more

Gorgeous theatre lovely grand feeling inside, very traditional British with ornate ballistrades up the stairs and cornicing on the extremely high ceilings. As always it seems, only one ladies bathroom for the entire theatre which always causes trouble at the interval! The service was very good I can't wait to go back! read more

The Old Vic is a really fantastic venue for theatre, especially now that Kevin Spacey is the Creative Director and is bringing British Theatre back to its roots. Sometimes it takes an outsider to see things from a new perspective and get things back on track. American's have a love and respect for the origins of British theatre and want it to continue to meat the high expectations its excellence has proven to be able to deliver. Spacey even performs in the productions put on by his theatre, bringing in the "star" factor to get the buts in the seats. With so many choices of things to do in London, theatres have to continue to step up their game in-order to compete for the patronage of customers. There is a vast array of productions at the Old Vic from classical Shakespeare, George Bernard Shaw, as well as modern plays. Amazing talent have graced the bored of the Old VIc since it opened in 1818 including Judi Dench, Laurence Olivier and Maggie Smith. read more