Frank Wildhorn's Your Lie in April—The Musical began performances at the West End's Harold Pinter Theater June 28, and Playbill has the pictures to prove it!
Running through September 21, the musical will officially open July 5. The production previously played a London concert performance in April. Written by Grammy, Tony, and Emmy-nominated composer Wildhorn, the show was the second musical manga adaptation of Wildhorn's to receive a concert staging in London, after Death Note the Musical.
Based the multi-million-selling Your Lie in April manga by Naoshi Arakawa, the work was first published by Kodansha. The story is a romantic tearjerker, centering on young piano prodigy Kōsei Arima and his inability to play following his mother’s death. When Arima forms an unexpected friendship with violinist Kaori Miyazono, she slowly inspires him to perform again. The manga was previously adapted into a 22-part anime television series and a live-action film.
The West End concert starred Zheng Xi Yong (Spring Awakening) as Arima and Rumi Sutton (Hex) as Miyazono. Yong returns for the extended West End run, with Mia Kobayashi stepping into the role of Miyazono in her professional debut, alongside Rachel Clare Chan and Dean John-Wilson.
They are supported by Ernest Stroud, Jojo Meredith, Chris Fung, Eu Jin Hwang, Daniel Nardone, Ericka Posadas, Lucy Park, Gracie Lai, Imogen Law Hing Choy, and Ria Tanaka.
Said Wildhorn in a previous statement, “I watched the anime of Your Lie in April, and when I was done crying, I raced to the piano and wrote it in one fit of inspiration. It’s a love letter to the healing power of music, a coming-of-age story with truly universal themes of family, friendship, loss, first love and the bridge between childhood and becoming a young adult."
For more information, visit YourLieInApril.co.uk.
Mia Kobayashi with violinist Akiko Ishikawa in Your Lie in April in the West End
Mia Kobayashi and Zheng Xi Yong in Your Lie in April in the West End
Dean John-Wilson in Your Lie in April in the West End
Zheng Xi Yong and Mia Kobayashi Your Lie in April in the West End
Rachel Clare Chan and Dean John-Wilson Your Lie in April in the West End
Mia Kobayashi with violinist Akiko Ishikawa in Your Lie in April in the West End
Mia Kobayashi and Zheng Xi Yong in Your Lie in April in the West End
Zheng Xi Yong in Your Lie in April in the West End
Zheng Xi Yong in Your Lie in April in the West End
Company of Your Lie in April in the West End
Dean John-Wilson in Your Lie in April in the West End
Zheng Xi Yong in Your Lie in April in the West End
Company of Your Lie in April in the West End
Mia Kobayashi and Zheng Xi Yong in Your Lie in April in the West End
Mia Kobayashi and Zheng Xi Yong in Your Lie in April in the West End
Company of Your Lie in April in the West End
Zheng Xi Yong and Mia Kobayashi in Your Lie in April in the West End
Company of Your Lie in April in the West End
Rachel Clare Chan in Your Lie in April in the West End
Company of Your Lie in April in the West End
Mia Kobayashi and Zheng Xi Yong in Your Lie in April in the West End
