Cameron Mackintosh has released the first photograph of Matt Lucas in costume as Fagin, hours before the comedian makes his first entrance in Oliver! at the Gielgud Theatre.
The picture released this afternoon by Cameron Mackintosh arrives only hours before the performance it anticipates: Matt Lucas takes over as Fagin in Oliver! at the Gielgud Theatre this evening, Tuesday 22 September. Taken by Johan Persson, it finds him grinning out from beneath a coiled braided cap in a patched red brocade coat and fingerless gloves, framed by the hanging silks of Lez Brotherston’s design.
The engagement is a brief one. Lucas plays the part for six weeks only, from tonight until Sunday 1 November 2026, standing in for Simon Lipkin, who was nominated for an Olivier Award for his reading of the role in this staging and is on paternity leave. Lipkin returns as Fagin on Tuesday 3 November.
Matt Lucas said: “I’ve always wanted to appear in Oliver! It was the first West End musical I ever saw, aged 6, and I adored it. Apparently, despite my considerable range, I am considered slightly too old now to play the title role, so instead I shall be appearing as Fagin. It’s always a treat to reunite with Cameron, and, of course, to get the opportunity to work with Matthew Bourne. I love this incredible new production and am thrilled and honoured to now be a part of it.”
Television is where most audiences know him from, by way of Shooting Stars, Little Britain, Doctor Who and The Great British Bake Off, and the screen credits run to Alice in Wonderland, Paddington, Bridesmaids, Wonka and Gladiator II. The stage work is more recent: he played Thénardier in Les Misérables: The Arena Concert Spectacular on its international dates, and sang in the 40th anniversary celebrations of the London production of Les Misérables.
He joins a company led by Ava Brennan as Nancy, Aaron Sidwell as Bill Sikes, Aaron MacGregor as the Artful Dodger, Oscar Conlon-Morrey as Mr Bumble, Katy Secombe as Widow Corney, Stephen Matthews as Mr Sowerberry and Dr Grimwig, Jamie Birkett as Mrs Sowerberry and Mrs Bedwin, and Mark Lockyer as Mr Brownlow. The title role is shared between Cian Bhalla, Isaac Hackett, James Miller and Thomas Newman.
The company was heard away from Shaftesbury Avenue on Sunday 20 September, when Lipkin and the cast sang You’ve Got to Pick-a-Pocket or Two at Magic at the Musicals at the Royal Albert Hall, introduced by Lucas. Magic Radio broadcasts the full concert from 5pm on Sunday 27 September.
Produced and revised by Cameron Mackintosh, the production is directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne and co-directed by Jean-Pierre van der Spuy, with designs by Lez Brotherston, lighting by Paule Constable and Ben Jacobs, sound by Adam Fisher, video by George Reeve, new orchestrations by Stephen Metcalfe after the originals by William David Brohn, and music supervision by Graham Hurman. It is a Cameron Mackintosh staging in association with Chichester Festival Theatre, announced for the Gielgud in April 2024 and now selling into a third year there.
Tickets for Oliver! at the Gielgud Theatre are on sale until Sunday 14 March 2027.
