Death Note: The Musical

Death Note The Musical World Premiere at the Barbican Theatre in London

Death Note: The Musical tells the story of Light Yagami, a brilliantly gifted student who discovers a supernatural notebook with a chilling power: any human whose name is written inside will die within 40 seconds. The notebook — known as the Death Note — was dropped into the human world by the Shinigami Ryuk. Convinced he can use this power to rid the world of criminals, Light begins eliminating wrongdoers across the globe. The public dubs him 'Kira', a symbol of justice to some and a murderer to others. But as unexplained deaths mount, the authorities enlist the enigmatic master detective L — setting the stage for a tense psychological cat-and-mouse battle between two brilliant minds.

It is a story about the price of playing god, and whether the ends can ever justify the means. The storytelling is clear, the moral stakes are human, and the drama is universal — whether you know the source material or are discovering it for the first time.

The Creative Team Behind Death Note: The Musical

This brand-new production brings together one of the most exciting creative teams assembled for a London premiere in recent years. Stephen Whitson directs, having previously helmed Hamilton and Moulin Rouge! The Musical in the UK — two of the defining musical theatre events of the past decade. Fabian Aloise, Olivier Award-nominated choreographer of Evita at the London Palladium and Sunset Boulevard at The Savoy, handles movement. Jon Bausor, the Emmy-nominated designer behind Spirited Away and Bat Out of Hell, creates the visual world of the show.

The score is by Frank Wildhorn — Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award-nominated composer of Jekyll & Hyde, Bonnie & Clyde, and the Whitney Houston hit 'Where Do Broken Hearts Go'. Lyrics are by Tony Award-nominated Jack Murphy (with additional lyrics by Morgan Reilly), and the book is by Emmy-nominated Ivan Menchell. Jason Howland serves as orchestrator and arranger. This new production features a revised script and newly written songs alongside the original acclaimed score.

From Tokyo to London: Death Note's Path to the West End

Death Note is one of the world's most successful manga series, with over 30 million copies sold worldwide, and a cultural footprint spanning feature animation, films, television, and an acclaimed Netflix adaptation. The musical premiered in Tokyo in 2015 and has run for a decade in acclaimed sold-out productions across Asia, winning Best Musical at the Korea Musical Awards.

London audiences had their first taste at the Palladium in 2023 — a series of sold-out, record-breaking concerts. This brand-new production is not a transfer of those previous Asian productions. It is a genuine world premiere: revised script, newly written songs, and a creative team building the show specifically for the West End and a planned Broadway run to follow.

Produced in London by HoriPro, Trafalgar Theatre Productions, and Pinnacle Productions, in association with the Barbican.