Name: The Real Thing
Start: 2024-08-22
End: 2024-10-26
Location: Old Vic

London

London Nav Links [NEW]

More shows

WL UK Nav

britmovietours logo

Brit Movie Tours

WL Terms

Terms and conditions

WL Privacy policy

Privacy policy

UK WL Musicals

Musicals

UK WL Plays

Plays

UK WL Family Theatre

Family

UK WL Deals & Special Offers

Special Offers

UK WL All Shows

All Shows

WL - All Attraction - LON

All Attractions

WL UK Info Links

INFO

WL FAQs

Help and Support

WL UK Help Links

HELP

WL UK Footer

Travel & Tour

UK WL Ballet & Opera

Ballet & Opera

WL Nav with Ballet & Opera

GWR Button Logo 01

GWR Nav Link to GWR site

Buy train tickets

WL Nav - GWR

WL Nav - The Times

WL Nav - Attractions Included

null

The Real Thing - LON [41271] 

Explore West End shows, book last minute theatre tickets, and more

Discover London

Book now

LON | TT | App Carousel | Back to the Future | 22396 | Media

Back to the Future - App Carousel - LON

Ages 6+. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult (18+). Under 4s will not be admitted.

Back to the Future: The Musical - LON [22396]

Back to the Future: The Musical

When Marty McFly is transported back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown, he accidentally changes the course of history. Now he’s in a race against time to fix the past and send himself... back to the future.

LON | TT | App Carousel | Hercules | 43135 

Hercules - Set Alerts - App Carousel - LON

Ages 6+. Children under 4 (including babies in arms) will not be admitted into the theatre. All persons aged 16 or under must be accompanied by an adult 18+ & may not sit on their own. All persons must have a ticket.

Disney's Hercules - LON [43135]

Disney's Hercules

Ancient Greece. A time of gods, mortals… and Hercules, who doesn't quite belong to either. But if he's not a god, how can he possibly save the world from Hades? It's one thing flexing those pecs, but going from zero to hero requires a different kind of strength. 

LON | TT | App Carousel | Harry Potter and the Cursed Child | Media

Production shot of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child: Both Parts in London, showing students cheer enthusiastically.

[Media #1] Parts One and Two 21176

Ages 10+. Please note that patrons under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult.

Harry Potter And The Cursed Child: Both Parts - LON [21176] 

Harry Potter And The Cursed Child: Both Parts

There’s magic in every moment at Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the most awarded play in history and “one of the most defining pop culture events of the decade” (Forbes). And now, the 8th Harry Potter story is bringing the magic back to London’s West End.

LON | TT | App Carousel | Strictly Come Dancing Tour 2025 | Media

LON | TT | App Carousel | Clueless | 36641 | Media

LON | TT | App Carousel | Clueless | 36641 | Onsale

Clueless The Musical - LON [36641]  

Clueless The Musical

CLUELESS is a new musical comedy based on the Paramount Pictures classic film. The modern spin on Jane Austen’s Emma gets another timeless makeover from the original film’s writer-director alongside a majorly acclaimed creative team.

LON | TT | App Carousel | The Comedy About Spies | 43451 | Onsale

Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by and sat next to an adult ticketholder (18+). Children under the age of 3 will not be admitted.

The Comedy About Spies - LON [43451]

The Comedy About Spies

A rogue British agent steals plans for a top-secret new weapon. Spies from the CIA and the KGB assemble at London’s Piccadilly Hotel to track down the British mole and obtain the file. When a young British couple and an older actor auditioning for the title role in the first James Bond film check into the hotel, the stakes reach boiling point in this riotous world of Cold War farce.

LON | TT | Young Vic | App Tile

[WT App Link] - LON - Young Vic 2024

View all shows

Young Vic 2024 Season

LON | TT | Park Theatre | App Tile

[WT App Link] - LON - Park Theatre

Park Theatre

LON | TT | London Attractions | App Tile

[WT App Link] - LON - London Attractions

Now on TodayTix

London Attractions

LON | TT | English National Opera | App Tile

[WT App Link] - LON - English National Opera

English National Opera

LON | TT | Bush Theatre | App Tile

[WT App Link] - LON - Bush Theatre

Bush Theatre

LON | TT | Royal Ballet and Opera | App Webtile

[WT App Link] - LON - Royal Ballet and Opera

Royal Ballet and Opera

LON | TT | Royal Court Season | App Tile 

[WT App Link] - LON - Royal Court Theatre

Royal Court Theatre

LON | TT | Kiln Theatre | App Tile

[WT App Link] - LON -Kiln Theatre

Kiln Theatre

LON | TT | The Globe | App Tile 

[WT App Link] - LON - The Globe

Shakespeare's Globe

LON | TT | Lyric Hammersmith | App Tile 

[WT App Link] - LON - Lyric Hammersmith

Lyric Hammersmith

LON | TT | Strictly Come Dancing The Live Tour

Strictly Come Dancing The Live Tour - App Tile 

Strictly Come Dancing The Live Tour

LON | TT | App Home Tile | Musicals Candlelight

Ages 6+. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

Musicals by Candlelight - LON [25037]

Musicals by Candlelight

Discover your favourite musicals like never before!

LON | TT | App Home Tile | Christmas by Candlelight

Christmas by Candlelight

Musicals by Candlelight at Christmas

The Devil Wears Prada LON

Ages 12+ (recommended). Under 5s cannot be admitted to the theatre. Guests 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult. All patrons, regardless of age, must have a valid ticket.

The Devil Wears Prada - LON [34706]

The Devil Wears Prada

As London Fashion Week descends on the Capital, the catwalk is out for the launch of The Devil Wears Prada, a new musical, based on the blockbuster film and bestselling novel, that will strut into London’s Dominion Theatre in October 2024.

LON | TT | App Tile | Stranger Things | 29263 | 

Ages 12+ (recommended). Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Under 5s not permitted.

Stranger Things: The First Shadow - LON [29263]

Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Brought to life by a multi-award-winning creative team, who take theatrical storytelling and stagecraft to a whole new dimension, this gripping new adventure will take you right back to the beginning of the Stranger Things story – and may hold the key to the end.


LON | TT | App Home Tile | Moulin Rouge! The Musical | 23350 | Media

Moulin Rouge! The Musical - LON [23350] 

Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Enter a world of splendour and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur, and glory! A world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Pop the champagne and prepare for the spectacular spectacular… 

LON | TT | App Tile | Back to the Future | Ad Unit

LON | TT | App Tile | Hercules | Video Ad Unit

TodayTix App Home - LON

Latest London Insider Posts

Venues in London

Special offer - TT Genre - LON

LON - Musicals - TodayTix

Musicals in London

LON - Family / Kid-friendly (TT)

Family shows

LON - Under £25

Tickets under £25

LON - Stars on Stage (TT)

Stars on Stage in London

LON - Opening soon

Opening Soon

LON - Plays - TodayTix

LON - All Attractions 

Attractions in the UK

LON - Off West End

All Off West End Shows

LON - All Shows (All Theatre Primary Categories) (TT) - Rush & Lottery

All shows in London

London All Shows Image

London Tile Image

London musicals

London plays

TT - Deals & Special Offers 

Offers

London family

London access

Rush & Lottery

TT - LON - Gift Guide

Gift Guide

More

The Real Thing

REAL TodayTix SetUp 480x720

REAL TodayTix SetUp 1080x1080

REAL TodayTix SetUp 1440x580

The Real Thing - LON [41271]

The Real Thing - LON [41271] - Image 1 

The Real Thing - LON [41271] - Image 2

The Real Thing - LON [41271] - Image 3

The Real Thing - LON [41271] - Image 4

‘There are no commitments, only bargains.’

Annie is an actress, Henry is a playwright, and fiction is the backdrop to life. Hardly a recipe for a faithful marriage, especially when it started as an affair.


Oliver Johnstone is starring in *The Real Thing* at The Old Vic until 26 October. 

Johnstone has starred in films like *Total Recall* and *The Inbetweeners 2*. 

He has also appeared in *Antigone*, *Henry V*, and *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof*. 

Oliver Johnstone - LON

The Old Vic is amongst London's most revered theatre venues, situated in the heart of the bustling city. Founded in 1818, this prestigious establishment continues to attract audiences with its dynamic array of world-renowned plays, ballets, operas and pantomimes. With a seating capacity of over 1,000, the richly decorated auditorium offers an immersive and intimate experience for all spectators. The Old Vic's enchanting neoclassical exterior and swirling marble foyers take you back in time, while its state-of-the-art sound and lighting system provide a modern and truly spectacular performance environment. Its stellar shows often star internationally acclaimed actors and directors. Over its 200-year legacy, the venue has been the home for breakthrough performances and debuts of some of the greatest plays in theatre history. 

**How to get to the Old Vic Theatre:** The Old Vic is conveniently located near multiple transport links. The nearest underground station is Waterloo, served by the Northern, Bakerloo, Jubilee, and Waterloo & City lines. The theatre is only a short 4-minute walk away. Bus routes 1, 68, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188 serve the area around the theatre. If you are driving, the nearest car park is the Waterloo Car Park located on York Road.

The Old Vic - LON

Old Vic

The Old Vic is a historic theatre in London known for world-class performances. It's conveniently accessible via Waterloo station and local bus routes.

Oliver Johnstone in Henry V in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare s Globe (photographer - Johan Persson) 1

Bel Powley is starring in *The Real Thing* at The Old Vic until 26 October. 

Powley is known for her roles in AppleTV+'s *the Morning Show* and the film *The Diary of a Teenage Girl*. 

She has appeared previously on the stage in *Tusk Tusk* at the Royal Court Theatre in 2009, *Arcadia* a the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, and *Lobby Hero* at the Haynes Theatre. 

Bel Powley - LON

Bel Powley Headshot a

Susan Wokoma is starring in *The Real Thing* at The Old Vic until 26 October. 

Wokoma is known for her roles in *Enola Holmes* and TV's *Chewing Gum*.

She played Bottom in Regent's Park Open Air Theatre's production of *A Midsummer Night's Dream*. 

Susan Wokoma - LON

susan wokoma 1200 LT

James McArdle is starring in *The Real Thing* at The Old Vic until 26 October. 

McArdle is known for his roles in TV's *Mare of Easttown* and Disney+'s *Andor*. 

He has previously appeared in the West End in The Globe's 2010 production of *Macbeth*, and *Emperor and Galilean*, as well as *Angels in America*. He returned to the Scottish play in the title role with Saoirse Ronan in Almeida Theatre's *The Tragedy of Macbeth*. 

James McArdle - LON

The Tragedy of Macbeth - LON [23995]

The Tragedy of Macbeth

Before the Wyrd sisters utter a word, we know something sinister is afoot. A dark stage features a wheelchair, an oxygen tank, a water spigot, and a wheelbarrow of black boots with a ghostlight illuminating the scene. As the still-life awakens, we're greeted with a tableau of a war-torn country, complete with soldiers and the title Scot picking up his rifle. Something wicked this way comes indeed.&nbsp;Director Yaël Farber's pulsating and achingly current take on Shakespeare's tragedy makes the familiar tale of the conflicted, power-grabbing thane feel eerily&nbsp;fresh. Each scene presents a complex stage portrait, and Soutra Gilmour's set design uses every surface, from a soaked stage to a reflective panel to create stunning dimension, with the help of Tim Lutkin's moody lighting.The production has made buzzy headlines for its starry leads Saoirse Ronan and James McArdle, both excellent, but while the stripped-back poster photography conveys a raw sexuality, the chemistry on display here, in love and in war, is much more electric and feral.&nbsp;Ronan's Lady Macbeth is the clear, conniving puppet master to the plot, and her seeming ingenue innocence belies the strings she's able to pull to all the greater effect. Ronan almost slithers around the stage, courting her prey, and it's only when the attack is too great that her Lady Macbeth descends into madness. Ronan's delivery makes you lean in and listen, lending her all the more control of the action. She doesn't need to shout to make her Lady Macbeth powerful; all she needs is you to watch her, which you can't help doing.&nbsp;Meanwhile McArdle's Macbeth is one of the most troubled I've seen, as he starts as a jovial, cheerful lad and spirals into lunacy and child-like fear at the effect of his actions. McArdle has found something sympathetic in what some might consider a tyrant of a character, and even though we know what the inevitable end must be, there's something that feels just as tragic in Macbeth's death as in all the others. He's typically the ultimate antihero, but here, he's a little bit of a lost boy, something the final moment drives home.&nbsp;The large supporting cast are all top notch, with several standout performances. Akiya Henry is heartbreaking and haunting as Lady Macduff, and I don't think I'll ever forget the horror of her final scene. That disturbing display is only matched by the pure emotional outcry from Emun Elliott as Macduff in response. A cathartic and captivating performance.&nbsp;The Wyrd Sisters, here, are Diane Fletcher, Maureen Hibbert, and Valerie Lilley, seen as buttoned-up types in Joanna Scotcher's modern costumes. The trio moves in synchronicity and every bit as matter-of-fact as their fashions, knowing the deed is done before the action even starts.&nbsp;Fair is foul, and foul is fair, and just as in Macbeth, it can be hard to distinguish between the two sometimes. Farber's production shows a divided world, and how easy it can be to go insane among conflicted opinions and power-hungry leaders. This Macbeth is a cautionary tale, one that does not tread lightly.&nbsp;<a href="/show/the-tragedy-of-macbeth">The Tragedy of Macbeth is at the Almeida Theatre to 27 November.&nbsp;</a>Photo credit: Saoirse Ronan and James McArdle (Photo by Marc Brenner)

'The Tragedy of Macbeth' review - Saoirse Ronan stuns in Yaël Farber’s raw Almeida Theatre production

James McArdle

The Old Vic LON

The Old Vic, originally named the Royal Coburg Theatre, was designed in 1818 by Rudolph Cabanel. Its name was later changed to the Royal Victoria Theatre, then the Royal Victoria Hall, before it took on its nickname of 'The Old Vic' as its official name in 1925. 

The Old Vic has housed acclaimed performances with such celebrated actors as John Gielgud’s *Hamlet*, Laurence Olivier’s *Macbeth* and *Othello* in 1937, and Judi Dench’s Juliet in *Romeo and Juliet*, which was privately performed for The Queen in 1957.

In 1963, the Old Vic became the home base of the [National Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/national-theatre) of Great Britain during its formation under Laurence Olivier. The theatre continued to host the National Theatre until the move to South Bank in 1976. 

There are two entrances to the Old Vic: one on The Cut and the other on Waterloo Road, which is an accessible entrance. In 2019, 'Penny', an accessible basement cafe and bar was opened, offering drinks, sandwiches and snacks. 

## Old Vic Seating Information

The auditorium has three levels - Stalls, Dress Circle, and the Lilian Baylis Circle.

Despite the Dress Circle overhang, this doesn’t affect the view due to pillars. There is also a staggered rake that will be noticeable from row J to allow better viewing.

The Lilian Baylis Circle is high above the ground and overhangs the Dress Circle at row C meaning row E will miss the top of the stage. There are also standing seats available at the sides of this circle.

Old Vic - London Theatre

Originally named Royal Coburg Theatre, The Old Vic was founded in 1818. It's been home to acclaimed performances and was the base of the National Theatre of Great Britain from 1963 to 1976.

Old Vic - TodayTix

The Real Thing Tickets

About The Real Thing

Run time

Venue

Categories

Age

Start date

End date

Stars on stage

Oliver Johnstone

Bel Powley

Susan Wokoma

James McArdle

Venue

Old Vic

Directions

Tickets