Good Night, Oscar

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The must see Tony Award-winning smash of the Summer opens to rave reviews – GOOD NIGHT, OSCAR is playing at the Barbican Theatre until 21 September.

Don’t miss your chance to see Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor, musician and writer Sean Hayes give a “mesmerising, once-in-a-generation performance” as the legendary Oscar Levant – American concert pianist, Hollywood icon, and the most unpredictable guest in late-night television history. Joining him is Olivier Award nominee Rosalie Craig (Company), alongside a cast of some of London’s finest stage talent, in this “blisteringly funny, razor-sharp and deeply moving” hit play by Pulitzer Prize winner Doug Wright.

It’s 1958. The golden age of live television. Jack Paar rules America’s late-night airwaves and tonight, his favourite guest is back: Oscar Levant. Brilliant, unfiltered, and entirely unpredictable, Oscar is must-see TV. There’s just one problem: he’s been locked in a mental health institution, and the network doesn’t know. As showtime looms and millions prepare to tune in, Jack faces a career-defining choice for them both: cancel the booking…or risk it all for a moment of television history and ratings gold.

GOOD NIGHT, OSCAR is a magnetic portrait of genius, ego and the unbearable tension between public brilliance and private chaos. Razer sharp, stylish, and unexpectedly moving it asks: how do we protect the people we love and when do we let them walk the wire?

From Chicago to Broadway to London, GOOD NIGHT, OSCAR has become the most talked-about play of the year and now it’s lighting up the Barbican stage. At its centre is Sean Hayes, delivering a performance of magnetic force, including his full virtuosic live performance of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. It’s a symphony of chaos and charisma: the story of a man who could electrify an audience, unsettle a host, and unravel in real time…all before the next commercial break.

Elegant, explosive and unmissable. Must end 21 September.

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Please note: Latecomers may not be admitted to the show.

What is Good Night, Oscar about?

It’s 1958, and Jack Paar hosts the hottest late-night talk-show on television. His favourite guest? Character actor, pianist, and wild card Oscar Levant. Famous for his witty one-liners, Oscar has a favourite: “There’s a fine line between genius and insanity; I have erased this line.” Tonight, Oscar will prove just that when he appears live on national TV in an episode that Paar’s audience—and the rest of America—won’t soon forget.

Ticket information

Tickets not currently available.

Running Time

1hr 40mins (no interval)

Cast & Creatives

Sean Hayes

Doug Wright (Writer), Lisa Peterson (Director).

Age Guidance: 12+

Booking Period

31 Jul - 21 Sep 2025

Weekly Performances

Sunday 3:00PM
Wednesday 7:00PM
Thursday 2:30PM, 7:00PM
Friday 7:00PM
Saturday 2:30PM, 7:00PM

For group bookings of 10 or more:
Submit a request online

Or call 020 7206 1176

Venue Information

Barbican Theatre

Silk St, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DS, UK

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Nearest Tube/Rail Station

Barbican

Buses

Bus Route 153 runs directly past the Barbican along Chiswell Street.

Nearest Car Parks

The Barbican Car Parks are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are always manned.

Reviews

RadioTimes

'Go see it before the music stops'

Standard

'Fast-paced. Highly-polished. Zinger-packed'

TimeOut

'Hayes is extraordinary as Levant'