7 / 10
Whether fans of the original Death Note will be happy with some of the cuts and changes to fit the story into a two-act musical structure, there is no denying that the result is a taut, compelling tale that is accessible to anyone unfamiliar with the source material. Utilising the Barbican Theatre’s stage to its fullest extent, this is a musical that earns the hype.
7 / 10
Much of Death Note is, for all those faults, hugely entertaining, particularly for a younger demographic who will see versions of low level adolescent neuroses on stage and, as is the case for Dear Evan Hansen, will gain that glorious glow of understanding that they are not alone. To be fair, it’s not much different to the feeling us older theatregoers get watching Chekhov or Ibsen, so why not?
Frank Wildhorn's Death Note Musical is now officially open in the West End. See what the critics are saying about the production in BroadwayWorld's Review Roundup!
Diehard fans will love seeing the world brought to life with its stunning visuals and cast, while newcomers will give themselves over to the thrilling melodrama. If there’s one thing Death Note won’t do this summer, it’s leave you dying of boredom.
DEATH NOTE: THE MUSICAL is back in London, opening at the Barbican Theatre for a strictly limited six-week season this July. The cast is led by Xander Pang and Colin Ryan, with Stephanie Zaharis as Misa Amane, Telly Leung as Ryuk, Grace Mouat as Rem, Paolo Montalban as Soichiro Yagami, Chloe Saracco as Jerasu, and Elsie Buckley as Sayu. Check out highlights from inside the sitzprobe in this video!
DEATH NOTE: THE MUSICAL has announced the full company for its reimagined London production, opening at the Barbican Theatre for a strictly limited six-week season this July. Tickets are on sale now.
If you are new to Death Note, there is a lot to catch up on. It has inspired multiple adaptations across television, film, novels, video games, and even stage productions, becoming one of the most influential franchises in contemporary Japanese pop culture.
The musical features a score by Tony, Grammy and Emmy nominee Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Jack Murphy and a book by Ivan Menchell. Wildhorn and Murphy's past collaborations include The Civil War, Swing, Wonderland, Carmen, and Count of Monte Cristo. Wildhorn is perhaps best known for Jekyll & Hyde, Bonnie & Clyde, The Scarlet Pimpernall, and Dracula.
Wildhorn's work on Death Note led to more manga adaptations, including Fist of the North Star in 2021 and Your Lie In April in 2022. I see Death Note as this total international, breaking the glass ceiling of what manga can be musically, around the world,' Wildhorn recently told BroadwayWorld.
This summer, a new world premiere production of Death Note: The Musical will come to the Barbican Theatre for 50 performances only. Learn more about the show here!
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