Saw the final matinee performance Sat 8th Jan. This was an extremely poor performance by all. The sound was poor, Griff Rhys Jones was embarrasing as Fagin, Kerry Ellis was not as good as Jodie Prenger and Steven Hartley should take some singing & acting lessons, Having seen the show last year with Omid Djalilli & Jodie Prenger giving their all and a much better oliver & Artful Dodger, I feel cheated, the cast came across as if they couldn't wait for it to end....neither could I, what a rip off!!

I took my Brother to see this show for his Birthday 6th Jan 2011, I was really looking forward to it, as we have been fans of Oliver since kids.
The Arful dodger, was fantastic, singing,dancing and charactor, spot on and the staging was excellent. I was not overly impressed with any of the other actors singing, dancing abilities, and Bill Sykes was a bit boring, the whole show was a bit slow to begin with, but got better in the middle and the end. However what I was very disappointed with was the sound quality, I paid alot of money for good seats in the stalls about 20 rows from the front, and the production did not jump out at me sound wise,in parts we could barely hear what the actors were saying or singing, which with this sort of show the music and singing is important, and that really ruined it for us.

nancy was great ,fagan not to good as was bill sykes but the scenery was fantastic that alone was worth going to see ,but whatever you do dont buy balcony tickets because they are nearly all restricted veiwing and you are not told this when booking you will also need a ventalator to get up the stairs ,there is no lifts so by the time i got to the top needless to say i wasnt in the greatest of moods but nancy and the artful dodger brightened me up the were brill

i thought oliver was amzing any who likes to go to the theatre then i really recomend it very much. kerry ellis made a stunning performace as always she really gave it all her singing was amzing adn the acting was fabulas. everyone gave the show very fun and enjoyable. when anyone goes in and watches the show all come out with a smile on the face and say that it was very good. i really recomand it to any age. but need to book qiuck it is finishing soon.

I would recommend Oliver to all ages. It was a fantastic show. Super dancing, great singing, a really enjoyable show. Lots of excellent talent from Fagins Gang boys. As the show closes in a few weeks time I would recommend you go very soon.

Oliver The Musical 15th December 2010. Spectacular scenery and the kids were very well drilled. What happened to 'It's a Fine Life' - far to fast and nearly missed it. I certainly couldn't make out the words. Bill Sykes will end up with a severely damaged voice if he carries on in that tuneless gravely way of singing/speaking and acting lessons wouldn't go amiss - the 'dramatic pauses' were excruciating. Kerry Ellis was just not on form and in fact gave the opinion that she, and in fact many others, just couldn't be bothered. Fagin was just not slick enough - no character and the singing was poor. The panto scene over the stash box was embarrassing and the panto acting between Mr & Mrs Bumble was equally regional. As far as I could see the only real actor was the undertaker/Dr. It may have been a Wednesday but it just isn't good enough especially as this is a family show with most of its punters being families who don't go more than once a year and with tickets, travel and drinks ends up very expensive and complete professionalism is required for every performance. Come on Mr Director give them some live. It was very tired - Extra rehearsal needed? even with just a few weeks to go

In a word 'boring'

The staging is magnificent and deserves awards, but although the storyline is somewhat 'darker' than the technicolour film I felt the pace was too fast and too superficial! Where could we see the relationship between Nacy & Bill, which makes Nancy's murder so horrific? Stephen Hartley had the necessary menace for Bill Sykes but fell short of true characterisation. Griff Rhys-Jones as Fagin fell very short of the mark - no menace, no charm - more of a panto character! For a ticket price of £65 I found it poor value for money! And a great disappointment

This show was such a disappointment. Kerry Ellis was superb but apart from her, everyone else seemed disinterested and uninvolved with the production. Griff Rhys Jones was weak, and not wily enough. Steven Hartley was not at all menacing and the lad who played Oliver was irritating. Oh, the lad who played the Artful Dodger was quite good. Travelled to London for this show only and thought I should have stayed home.

DURING THE FIRST 1/2 HOUR, I FELT A BIT DISAPPOINTED AS IT WAS SLOW TO GET WARMED UP AND i COULDN'T HEAR WHAT BUMBLE WAS SAYING. HOWEVER, AFTER THAT THE SHOW REALLY WARMED UP AND WAS THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE. STEVE HARTLEY (BILL SYKES) WAS REALLY REALLY GOOD. YOU COULD HEAR A PIN DROP BECAUSE HIS ACTING WAS SO MENACING WITH SO MUCH TENSION. ARTFUL DODGER WAS BRILLIANT TOO. RUSS ABBOT AS FAGIN WAS OK BUT I THINK HE COULD HAVE PUT MORE OF HIS OWN MARK ON THE ROLE! NANCY WAS BRILL TOO.

Went for a day out in London for a family get together and had a great time. What a fantastic show. We were really excited to see the show and had splashed out on a box BB1. The view was excellent because there was nobody in front of us and it had plenty of room for our shopping bags and coats etc. My daughter (7 years) usually struggles to see but had no problems from the box. The children actors were briliant singers and dancers but best of all was Russ Abbot, he made a fabulous Fagin.
I would recommend this show for the whole family!

Oliver is one of the best musicals in history, there's no doubt about that, and Cameron Mackintosh's new production just makes it all the better! All these idiots who are saying that he added new things in, THAT'S NOT TRUE!!!! It strictly follows all of the other previous productions, and just because few of the songs weren't shown in the film, now they're new apparently? Mmmm.... the children were fantastic, and the set was just astonishing. Kerry Ellis was amazing, so were the rest of the principals and the Oliver we had.. the welsh one was just mind blowing, you could see that he could hold an entire stage! Very good production FIVE STARTS WITHOUT A DOUBT!

What an excellent show. The children were fantastic and stole the show. Russ Abbot an excellent Fagin, Kerry Ellis, an amazing singer. We sat in the grand circle and had excelllent view of the whole stage.Well worth the money, lots of great songs and fantastic dancing, particularly from Fagins gang Boys.

Ben Wilson (Dodger) totally stole the shoe, he was fantastic!!! Great production that has hd me singing all day!!! Russ Abbot was very funny as Fagin and Kerry Ellis was the perfect Nancy.

Fantastic show. The kids and Russ Abbot as Fagin really made it. Bill Sykes lacked a little something though! The theatre is absolutely beautiful and well worth a visit. Go and see it, you won't regret it.

This show is fantastic. Russ Abbott was great as Fagin, and the Artful Dodger was fantastic what a talent. All of the cast were brilliant and would love to see it again. the scenes were of a high standard and overall WHAT A SHOW WELL DONE !!!!! There wasn't anything I didn't like about it.

The scenery was absolutely fabulous. Russ Abbott was funny and the Artful Dodger was a very talented young performer but the best bit was when Nancy sang ' As long as he needs me' I had goosebumps - fantastic! What a great night. Well worth the money.

We had a choice as to seeing Oliver or the Jersey Boys for a second time. We chose Oliver and what a mistake. There is no flow to the show and some of the performances are very week. Russ Abbott as Fagin is very good and the star of the show. Only fools and horses 'trigger' was awful. Think twice before you spend £65 for stalls tickets

second time i have seen oliver first time with jodie prenger and rowan atkinson....i love kerry ellis but foud it hard to here her voice at times she was not as convincing as jodie in the role...griff rys jones was superb as were the children oliver was played by the little welsh boy that won it on the show "id do anything" and was also superb...would i go again...no seen it twice roll on the wizard of oz !