MORE? Could Oliver Be The West End’s Next Long-Running Musical?

Written by Daz Gale

The West End is bursting with long-running musicals, many of which are celebrating milestones at the moment. Last year, Les Misérables celebrated 40 years in the West End, making it the longest-running musical in the world, closely followed by The Phantom of the Opera, who mark their 40th anniversary later this year. The numbers drop a bit after that, but are still nothing to be sniffed at, with Mamma Mia! in its 27th year, and Wicked preparing to say “congratulotions” for its 20th anniversary in the West End this September.

The world of theatre has changed quite a lot since those earliest shows opened in the 1980s, and there is a wonder if we will ever see anything that has such long runs again. There has been a growing trend recently of new shows opting for strictly limited runs, rather than open-ended ones, with The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry a recent example, playing a run just shy of three months in the West End. So which of the latest crop could be the next long-runner? As I see it, there are two strong contenders. Paddington The Musical could be a fixture in the West End for decades to come, announcing an unprecedented extension into 2028 already, while the other is celebrating 18 months in the West End and shows no signs of going anywhere - Oliver!

I made a long-awaited return visit to Oliver this week, having been blown away by what I had seen when I reviewed it in January 2025. I was struck by how cosy and comfortable it felt being there, as if it had resided at the Gielgud Theatre as long as its next-door neighbour, Les Misérables. With the show already booking into March 2027, it won’t be going anywhere in a hurry, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this production also starts marking milestones and enjoys a lengthy run itself.

Of course, this isn’t a brand new musical, with Oliver! first opening in the West End in 1960, enjoying multiple revivals in the decades since, and that is part of what works in its favour. Oliver! transcends generations - it seems that everyone grew up with the story in some shape or form, whether it was the iconic movie from 1968, or even reading Charles Dickens original story from 1838. There are some musicals that seem to appeal to certain demographics of age groups - I get the sense that Oliver! is universal. Looking around the Gielgud Theatre this week,  I couldn’t help but notice the wide variety of audience members, from young children to single adults to those audience members who were old enough to remember the movie coming out. While their ages may have differed, one thing was consistent in them all - their enjoyment of the show.

That is the real beauty of theatre - the way it brings people together, even the most unlikely of groups who would never think they had anything in common or similar interests to talk about, but a show such as Oliver! provides them the perfect opportunity. There is clearly a sense of nostalgia to be had in watching a show like this, with memories of a simpler time that help form the connection of the story. Given my love of theatre, it is inexplicable that I had never seen any previous production of the musical on stage prior to this one, but I grew up with the film always playing in my house, and who doesn’t know songs such as ‘I’d Do Anything’ and ‘Consider Yourself’? Theatre at its best provides pure escapism - something that is very much needed in an increasingly scary world. This production of Oliver! seems to have come at the perfect time, and should continue to fill every seat while the world continues to be a terrifying place (so the foreseeable future, I assume).

It may not always be the cheeriest of stories with kidnapping and murder, but there is still something about Oliver! that doesn’t fail to put a smile on your face (admittedly not during the murder part, but for others). In the interval, I commented that I felt like The Grinch as my heart seemed to have grown three sizes through the pure joy it brought me, and I certainly wasn’t alone in feeling like that. Leaving the theatre, it was clear the audience were fulfilled and overcome with joy, with more than one singing or humming one of the classic numbers on their journey home (with apologies to anyone in the same tube carriage as me).

What makes this production such a success? It has the Cameron Mackintosh blueprint all over it, feeling like the brother to Les Misérables in many ways. From the set design and the bones to the show, it feels very fitting that it is situated next door to Les Misérables, with even the artwork of Oliver and young Cosette bearing similarities, as if the two are brother and sister. This creates a real destination on Shaftesbury Theatre, already an iconic home for theatres with the Lyric and Apollo on the same street. On the way home, I commented on how incredible a double show day of Oliver! and Les Mis would be. You might be put through the emotional wringer seeing both back to back, but you will certainly come out experiencing how sensational theatre can be at its best.

Another reason why this production of Oliver! may expect a long stay in the West End is in its repeat watchability. Some amazing shows in the West End may experience a “one and done” identity, where audiences can love every minute of it, but have no desire to see it again. Oliver! is not one of those. This is a show you could see several times a week, and not get bored. This week marked my third visit to this production and, dare I say, I enjoyed it even more this time around.

Part of that is down to its phenomenal cast, with Simon Lipkin even better than before as Fagin, with some new comedy additions that definitely weren’t there on my first watch. It is a testament to the joyful nature of this production that so many of its original cast have stayed for the second year, though the new additions that have joined bring something different to the mix as well. Of course, the title role requires talented children, who will only be able to do a limited time in the role - having seen three different children play the title role in my visits, it goes to show how talented the next generation of theatre performers are. With the opportunity to catch understudies, alternates and swings in different roles, there is an element of never quite knowing what you are going to get in a show such as Oliver!, apart from one certainty - the sheer quality of this well-polished show.

Will we ever see another show such as Les Misérables celebrating 40 years in the West End? It seems increasingly unlikely, given the fast-moving nature of the industry. So how do we define a long-running show? For me personally, I would say anything that manages five years and upwards in the West End can be considered one, with Back To The Future having just concluded its run five years, and Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club now in its sixth year. With Oliver! now booking into its third year, I’d be surprised if it has plans to go anywhere for a while after that. At one point in the show, Oliver asks Mr Brownlow if he can stay at his home. There’s no need to ask the same for his stay at the Gielgud Theatre, which should continue to have audiences screaming for "MORE" for years to come.

Oliver! is currently booking at the Gielgud Theatre until March 2027. Tickets from  https://allthatdazzles.londontheatredirect.com/musical/oliver-gielgud-tickets

Photos by Johan Persson