Blab Entertainment
Death Note Musical to Open at Londons Barbican Centre in 2026
London’s Barbican Centre is set to become the latest battleground for the Death Note saga, as the English‑language version of the hit musical opens on July 30, 2026. The show will run for 50 performances, closing on September 12, with a press night scheduled for August 11.
The production will stretch two and a half hours, including a 20‑minute interval, and carries a 12+ age‑guidance rating. Behind the curtain, Stephen Whitson directs the show, bringing experience from West End successes such as Hamilton and Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Jon Bausor handles design, while Fabian Aloise choreographs the movement. Jason Howland serves as orchestrator and arranger, Morgan Reilly contributes additional lyrics, and the score is composed by Frank Wildhorn, whose work has been performed by Whitney Houston and Natalie Cole.
The cast is anchored by Xander Pang as Light Yagami and Colin Ryan as L, with Stephanie Zaharis as Misa Amane, Telly Leung as Ryuk, Grace Mouat as Rem, Paolo Montalban as Soichiro Yagami, Chloe Saracco as Jerasu, and Elise Buckley as Sayu.
According to the West End Best Friend website, the London version is a full production featuring a revised book and new musical numbers. The site also notes plans to transfer the show to Broadway after the Barbican run.
Death Note: The Musical first premiered in 2015 at the Nissay Theatre in Tokyo, and was staged again in Japan in 2017 and 2020. A concert version debuted in London in 2023 at the London Palladium and the Lyric Theatre, marking the first English‑language performances of the show.
The story originates from Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata’s 2003‑2006 manga, serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump and collected in 12 volumes. The series has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide and has been adapted into a 2006 live‑action film, a 2008 spin‑off, a 2015 television drama, a 2016 sequel, and a 2017 Netflix film directed by Adam Wingard. A new Netflix live‑action series was announced in 2022 by Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer.
Bringing a large‑scale musical based on a globally popular manga to a major London venue is significant for the West End. The revised script and new songs suggest a fresh interpretation that may appeal to long‑time fans and newcomers alike, while the planned Broadway transfer signals confidence in the show’s commercial potential.
At present, the production is in the final stages of rehearsal and set construction. Ticket sales for the 50‑performance run are expected to open shortly after the press night. No additional dates or locations have been announced beyond the Barbican and the potential Broadway transfer. The show’s performance schedule, cast availability, and future licensing arrangements remain under development.
The production will stretch two and a half hours, including a 20‑minute interval, and carries a 12+ age‑guidance rating. Behind the curtain, Stephen Whitson directs the show, bringing experience from West End successes such as Hamilton and Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Jon Bausor handles design, while Fabian Aloise choreographs the movement. Jason Howland serves as orchestrator and arranger, Morgan Reilly contributes additional lyrics, and the score is composed by Frank Wildhorn, whose work has been performed by Whitney Houston and Natalie Cole.
The cast is anchored by Xander Pang as Light Yagami and Colin Ryan as L, with Stephanie Zaharis as Misa Amane, Telly Leung as Ryuk, Grace Mouat as Rem, Paolo Montalban as Soichiro Yagami, Chloe Saracco as Jerasu, and Elise Buckley as Sayu.
According to the West End Best Friend website, the London version is a full production featuring a revised book and new musical numbers. The site also notes plans to transfer the show to Broadway after the Barbican run.
Death Note: The Musical first premiered in 2015 at the Nissay Theatre in Tokyo, and was staged again in Japan in 2017 and 2020. A concert version debuted in London in 2023 at the London Palladium and the Lyric Theatre, marking the first English‑language performances of the show.
The story originates from Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata’s 2003‑2006 manga, serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump and collected in 12 volumes. The series has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide and has been adapted into a 2006 live‑action film, a 2008 spin‑off, a 2015 television drama, a 2016 sequel, and a 2017 Netflix film directed by Adam Wingard. A new Netflix live‑action series was announced in 2022 by Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer.
Bringing a large‑scale musical based on a globally popular manga to a major London venue is significant for the West End. The revised script and new songs suggest a fresh interpretation that may appeal to long‑time fans and newcomers alike, while the planned Broadway transfer signals confidence in the show’s commercial potential.
At present, the production is in the final stages of rehearsal and set construction. Ticket sales for the 50‑performance run are expected to open shortly after the press night. No additional dates or locations have been announced beyond the Barbican and the potential Broadway transfer. The show’s performance schedule, cast availability, and future licensing arrangements remain under development.
