Matt Lucas to join the West End cast of Oliver! for a limited run

Matt Lucas will play Fagin in Oliver! in the West End for a limited six-week season.

The hit revival, which bagged a five-star review from WhatsOnStage and a WhatsOnStage Award for its initial run at Chichester Festival Theatre, is devised by Cameron Mackintosh, with direction and choreography by Matthew Bourne, and co-direction by Jean-Pierre van der Spuy.

Adapted from Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist by Lionel Bart, Oliver! follows an orphaned boy of the same name as he escapes the confines of the workhouse and finds refuge in the city’s underworld. Tunes include “Food Glorious Food”, “Consider Yourself”, ”You’ve Got to Pick-a-Pocket or Two”, and “As Long As He Needs Me.”

Olivier Award nominee Simon Lipkin, who reinvented the role of Fagin in this new production, will continue in the role until Sunday 20 September, before resuming from Tuesday 3 November after the birth of his child.

Lucas will step in from 22 September to 1 November 2026. He said that Oliver! is the first West End musical he ever saw at age six, adding: “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.”

Mackintosh sent his best wishes to Lipkin as he becomes a father for the first time.

The cast also includes Aaron Sidwell (Henry VI, Wicked) as Bill Sikes, Ava Brennan as Nancy, Aaron MacGregor as the Artful Dodger, Oscar Conlon-Morrey as Mr Bumble, Katy Secombe (The Music Man) as Widow Corney, Stephen Matthews (Strictly Ballroom) as Mr Sowerberry/Dr Grimwig, Jamie Birkett (Peter Pan Goes Wrong) as Mrs Sowerberry/ Mrs Bedwin and Philip Franks (The Rocky Horror Show, Witness for the Prosecution) as Mr Brownlow. Mark Lockyer plays Mr. Brownlow from Tuesday 21 July.

The role of Oliver Twist is played by Isaac Hackett, James Miller, Thomas Newman and Jacob Sanders-Jones.

The ensemble includes Adam Boardman, Julie Cloke, Lois Craig, Harry Cross, Stephen John Davis, Will Elliott, Tom Andrew Hargreaves, Victoria Hay, Bethany Huckle, Jehu Josephs, Bethan Keens, Danny Lane, Conor McFarlane, Mia Mullarkey, Erin Oliver, Jasmine Sakyiama, Wendy Somerville, Charlie Stripp, Jamie Tyler, Lochlan White, Sienna Widd and Dane Young.

The younger roles in Fagin’s gang are shared by Titus Boniface, Nathaniel Morgan Bennett, Noelle Coker, Sebastian Castro, Liam England, Joshua Fowler, Jonah Mansell, Tristan Marwa, Tommy McGovern, Stanley Mould, Herb Muldoon, Jena Osman, Hugo Pechey, Josh Pegler, Charlie Ranganathan, Lawrence Sebastian, Eli Sesay, Sienna Sibley, Asher Swaray-Gray, Henry Thomas and Jake Weatherall.

The musical is currently booking at the Gielgud Theatre to 13 March 2027.