Pygmalion Tickets

Enjoy a Classic Satire With Pygmalion Tickets

A thrilling revival of Pygmalion at the Old Vic Theatre promises witty repartee and sharp satire, with one of theatre’s most irrepressible female characters taking to the stage. George Bernard Shaw’s classic play is a highlight of the season this autumn, starring Patsy Ferran and Bertie Carvel as the iconic duo Eliza and Professor Higgins.

About Pygmalion

Eliza Doolittle wants to be more than a girl selling flowers in Covent Garden, and after a chance encounter with Professor Henry Higgins and Colonel Pickering, everything changes. Suddenly, Eliza is at the centre of a bet: can the men train her up enough to pass as a lady in London society?

George Bernard Shaw’s biting observation of class - famously adapted into the musical My Fair Lady - turns all expectations on their head as Eliza teaches uptight Henry Higgins a few lessons of his own.

Who wrote Pygmalion?

Pygmalion was written by Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw in 1913 as a satire about class ad mobility in Victorian England. Bernard Shaw was one of the biggest theatrical figures of his generation, and he wrote over 60 plays including Saint Joan and Man and Superman. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1925 and is still hugely influential today. Of all his plays, Pygmalion is the best-known in popular culture and was the inspiration for the musical My Fair Lady.

Is Pygmalion the same as My Fair Lady?

Although these are two completely different genres of theatre, the play Pygmalion famously inspired My Fair Lady! The musical has a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. It premiered on Broadway in 1956 and won six Tony Awards including Best Musical.

The two shows are very similar, and the songs in My Fair Lady - including “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” and “Get Me to the Church on Time” - have become some of the most popular musical songs of all time. Now that Pygmalion is back in London, you can see the story that inspired the musical and compare it for yourself.

Pygmalion at the Old Vic Cast and Creatives

At the Old Vic Theatre, Pygmalion is directed by Richard Jones, who is best known for his work in opera with the English National Opera, Glyndebourne and New York City Opera. He previously directed Endgame at the Old Vic starring Daniel Radcliffe.

The cast of Pygmalion is led by Olivier Award winner Patsy Ferran (Three Sisters; A Streetcar Named Desire) as Eliza Doolittle and Bertie Carvel as Professor Henry Higgins. Carvel is a two-time Olivier Award winner and one-time Tony Award winner with stage credits including Rupert Murdoch in Ink and the original Miss Trunchbull in Matilda the Musical.

Tickets for Pygmalion at the Old Vic Available Now

Whether you’re a fan of My Fair Lady or classic plays, Pygmalion is the perfect show to enjoy this year. Don’t miss this xplosively funny classic performed by top-class talent.