Revised Death Note Musical Sets London World Premiere

Revised Death Note Musical Sets London World Premiere

The Frank Wildhorn musical is getting some new songs and a revised script.

February 26, 2026 By Logan Culwell-Block

A revised version of the Frank Wildhorn musical Death Note will make its world premiere at London's Barbican this summer, with performances beginning July 30 and officially opening August 11. The limited run will continue through September 12.

Tickets go on sale March 4 at 10 AM GMT at DeathNoteTheMusical.com.

This new staging will be directed by Stephen Whitson, and will feature a revised book by Ivan Menchell. The score—with music by the Jekyll & Hyde songwriter and lyrics by Jack Murphy—is also getting some newly written songs, with additional lyrics by Morgan Reilly and arranged and orchestrated by Wildhorn's longtime music guru, Jason Howland (The Great Gatsby). The production will feature scenic design by Jon Bausor (Spirited Away) and choreography by Fabian Aloise (Sunset Boulevard, Evita).

The work is adapted from Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata's best-selling Japanese manga series of the same name. The story follows Light Yagami, a high school student in Tokyo who comes across a discarded notebook owned by Ryuk, a mythological god of death. Discovering he can kill anyone by just writing their names in the supernatural notebook, Light takes justice into his own hands by filling the notebook with names of the nation’s most wanted criminals. The work has amassed a global fan base thanks to international productions in Japan, South Korea, Russia, Brazil, London, and more.

The London production is being produced by HoriPro, Trafalgar Theatre Productions, and Pinnacle Productions, in association with the Barbican.

"I am humbled, honored, and beyond excited to bring Death Note to the Barbican this summer," says Wildhorn in a statement. "I hope it’s a step in a beautiful long life for our manga musical in the West and beyond. So very grateful to HoriPro and Trafalgar for giving our ‘voice’ a chance to be heard!!"