The highly anticipated UK premiere of Death Note: The Musical has announced its lead cast, with Xander Pang and Colin Ryan taking central roles. The production opens at the Barbican Theatre on 30 July 2026, marking the first full staging of the show in London.

Xander Pang will star as Light Yagami, the disillusioned protagonist who uses the supernatural Death Note to eliminate criminals. Colin Ryan will play L, the enigmatic detective tasked with uncovering the identity of the mysterious killer known as Kira. Performances run until 12 September at the Barbican Theatre.

Death Note: The Musical is based on the bestselling manga series by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. The story explores the psychological clash between Light and L as the world reacts to the rise in unexplained deaths linked to the Death Note.

The musical features music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Jack Murphy, and a book by Ivan Menchell. This new London production will include a revised script and additional songs alongside the original score.

Presented by HoriPro and Trafalgar Theatre Productions in association with the Barbican Centre, the show was originally produced by HoriPro in 2015. It has since been staged in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, with a concert presentation held at the London Palladium in 2023.

The creative team for the London staging includes director Stephen Whitson, choreographer Fabian Aloise, designer Jon Bausor, and orchestrator and arranger Jason Howland, with additional lyrics by Morgan Reilly. Pang described playing Light at the Barbican as an “unbelievable honour,” while Ryan said he was “incredibly excited” to bring the iconic character L to life.

This production signals a notable expansion of manga and anime adaptations on the West End stage, following growing interest in Japanese pop culture narratives translated into musical theatre.