Matt Lucas to Play Fagin in Limited West End Run of Oliver!

The Doctor Who and Little Britain star will join the acclaimed musical at London’s Gielgud Theatre for six weeks this autumn.

Matt Lucas is returning to the West End to take on one of musical theatre’s most famous characters, Fagin in Oliver!

The British actor and comedian will appear in the Lionel Bart musical for a limited six week engagement, beginning on 22 September and ending on 1 November 2026. He will temporarily replace Olivier Award nominee Simon Lipkin, who is taking a break from the production as he prepares to become a father for the first time.

Lucas, whose stage career has frequently placed him on the wrong side of the law, recently completed another appearance as the unscrupulous innkeeper Thénardier in Les Misérables: The Arena Spectacular. He will now swap the taverns of revolutionary France for the streets of Victorian London, playing the leader of a group of young pickpockets.

The performer said joining Oliver! fulfilled a long held ambition, explaining that it was the first West End musical he saw as a child.

“I’ve always wanted to appear in Oliver! It was the first West End musical I ever saw, aged 6, and I adored it,” Lucas said.

Joking about missing his chance to play the young orphan at the centre of the story, he added: “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.”

Lucas also expressed his enthusiasm about reuniting with producer Cameron Mackintosh and working with director and choreographer Matthew Bourne.

“I love this incredible new production and am thrilled and honoured to now be a part of it,” he said.

Mackintosh welcomed the casting and praised Lucas following his latest performance in Les Misérables.

“I’m absolutely thrilled that the one and only Matt Lucas is going to bring his incomparable talent to the role of Fagin for six weeks from the end of September,” the producer said.

He also sent his best wishes to Lipkin, who has played Fagin since the production opened at the Gielgud Theatre in January 2025.

Before joining Oliver!, Lucas is due to appear in an all star season of Les Misérables at New York’s Radio City Music Hall. His latest performance as Thénardier continues a long association with the role, which he has previously played in anniversary productions staged in 2010, 2019, 2021 and 2025.

Lucas first became widely known through his work with Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer on Shooting Stars. He later created and starred in Little Britain with David Walliams, presented The Great British Bake Off and appeared opposite Peter Capaldi in Doctor Who as Nardole. He has also been announced as a contestant on the 22nd series of Taskmaster.

In Oliver!, Lucas will join a cast that includes Ava Brennan as Nancy, Aaron Sidwell as Bill Sikes, Aaron MacGregor as the Artful Dodger, Oscar Conlon-Morrey as Mr Bumble and Katy Secombe as Widow Corney.

Based on Charles Dickens’ novel Oliver Twist, Lionel Bart’s musical originally premiered in the West End in 1960. The story follows orphan Oliver as he escapes a brutal workhouse and becomes entangled with Fagin’s gang of child thieves in London.

The current production returned to the West End in 2025 following an acclaimed run at Chichester Festival Theatre. Lipkin’s performance as Fagin subsequently earned him an Olivier Award nomination.

When and where is Matt Lucas appearing in Oliver!?

Matt Lucas will play Fagin at the Gielgud Theatre in London from 22 September to 1 November 2026. Tickets are available through London Theatre Direct and LOVEtheatre.

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