Old Vic

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.

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.

I have only seen one play here, but I imagine it’s the type of place where either bad productions are non-​existent or they’re few and far between. It just has a certain class about it. In July, I saw «The Crucible» here. The talent was top notch, and it was told in an excellent manner. The only reason the theater doesn’t get five stars is there are definitely «bad seats» here even when you’ve paid a lot. I was in the second highest tier of seating price-​wise, but I found myself moving my head back and forth because of a gentleman in front of me who was doing the same. If I didn’t move my head, I couldn’t see a lot. I expect more when I’m paying 45 pounds. It’s worth it to look at the seat map and see if there are rows in front of you in the balconies. If possible, try to be in the front row of whatever balcony. I’m not sure how it was on the floor, but let’s just say I was jealous. :) They sell drinks and ice cream at intermission.

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 :)

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!

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’.

Love The Old Vic! It oozes history and class. The interior décor 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.

Just saw my 10^th 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.

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 décor. 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.

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

The Old Vic is one of those classic London theatres that, if you enjoy classic London theatre, you get to eventually. It took me about a year and a half but here I am.
I saw «Much Ado About Nothing» with James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave. The show was… eh. It trudged along, which was sad because it’s easily one of Shakespeare’s best comedies.
What they really needed though, were microphones. I know it goes against the feeling of Shakespeare but we were in the back and it was very hard to hear some of the lines. Or maybe the actors just need to shout even more.
That being said, the rest of the theatre was fantastic. Being in the top balcony in the back, we could still see everything perfectly. There was a bar on every floor so we didn’t have to travel far during intermission for a drink and the seats were comfortable. They layout of this theatre is top notch.
It also has a killer bar in the basement that stays open late. For the longest time I’d only been to the bar and never seen a show there, and that was enough. In the Waterloo area and looking for a quiet spot for a cocktail? You could do worse than here.
The shows they pick though are usually top notch. Kevin Spacey is the artistic director so the season is solid. And the tickets usually run pretty cheap at about £12 to £15. Go, enjoy, see some classic theatre in a classic spot.

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.

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

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!

Das Old Vic Theatre ist ein wunderschönes altes Theater in London. Seit 2004 ist Oscar-​Gewinner Kevin Spacey künstlerischer Leiter. Anfang 2009 konnte ich hier die Produktion Complicit sehen (Autor: Joe Sutton) mit Oscar-​Gewinner Richard Dreyfuss in der Hauptrolle (Regie: Kevin Spacey). Sowohl das Stück, wie auch die Regie, das Bühnenbild und die schauspielerische Leistung waren grandios. Bis heute gibt es nur wenige Stücke, die ich gesehen habe, die mit dieser Qualität mithalten können. Wer also Theater auf höchstem Niveau erleben will, sollte in das Old Vic Theatre gehen.

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

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.

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!

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!

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.

Denota de um estilo clássico de fazer inveja aos mais modernos teatros do mundo, quem for a Londres não pode deixar de assistir a um espetáculo nele.

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.

Wunderschoenes historisches Theater, das sich alleine schon der Kulisse wegen lohnt. Die Stuecke sind jedoch auch erster Klasse; Kevin Spacey ist agiert als Artistic Director und ist ab und zu auch selber auf der Buehne zu bewundern.