Xander Pang and Colin Ryan to Star in DEATH NOTE: THE MUSICAL at the Barbican
The reimagined production will open at the Barbican Theatre this summer.
DEATH NOTE: THE MUSICAL has announced that Xander Pang and Colin Ryan will lead the upcoming London production opening this summer at the Barbican Theatre.
Presented by HoriPro and Trafalgar Theatre Productions in association with the Barbican, the production will begin performances July 30, 2026, with an official press night scheduled for August 11. The engagement will continue through September 12.
Based on the manga series by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, DEATH NOTE: THE MUSICAL features music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Jack Murphy, and a book by Ivan Menchell. The production includes a revised script and newly written songs alongside Wildhorn’s original score.
Pang will play Light Yagami, a student who discovers a supernatural notebook capable of killing anyone whose name is written inside it. Ryan will portray the detective L, who attempts to uncover the identity of the mysterious vigilante known as “Kira.”
The musical adaptation premiered in Japan in 2015 and has since been staged in South Korea and Taiwan. The property previously played sold-out concert performances at the London Palladium in 2023.
Creative Team
The creative team includes director Stephen Whitson, choreographer Fabian Aloise, set designer Jon Bausor, and orchestrator and arranger Jason Howland, with additional lyrics by Morgan Reilly.
Performance Information
DEATH NOTE: THE MUSICAL will run July 30 through September 12, 2026, at the Barbican Theatre in London.
Performances are scheduled Monday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with additional matinees Thursdays and Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. The production has an approximate running time of two hours and 30 minutes, including an intermission, and is recommended for ages 12 and up. Tickets begin at £25.
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