The full cast has been revealed for the UK premiere of Death Note: The Musical, set for a limited season at London’s Barbican Theatre from July to September 2026. The much-anticipated production is based on the popular manga and offers a revised script alongside new songs.

Death Note: The Musical will play at the Barbican Theatre in London from 30 July to 12 September 2026, with its press night scheduled for 11 August. The production reveals a full cast including previously announced leads Xander Pang as Light Yagami and Colin Ryan as L.

Joining them in principal roles are Stephanie Zaharis as Misa Amane, Telly Leung as Ryuk, Grace Mouat as Rem, Paolo Montalban as Soichiro Yagami, Chloe Saracco as Jerasu, and Elise Buckley as Sayu. The ensemble features CJ Benoiton, Louise Liluna Browning, Aoife Haakenson, and others, supported by swings and a dance captain to cover ensemble roles.

Based on the manga by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, the musical tells the story of Light Yagami, a student who finds a supernatural notebook capable of killing anyone whose name is written in it. His use of the notebook to eliminate criminals draws the attention of the mysterious detective known only as L, sparking a gripping psychological battle.

The score is composed by Frank Wildhorn, with lyrics by Jack Murphy and additional contributions from Morgan Reilly, and a book by Ivan Menchell. The musical first premiered in Japan in 2015 and has since seen runs in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, as well as a concert presentation in London at the Palladium in 2023.

This new London production will feature a revised script and new songs alongside Wildhorn’s original score. It is directed by Stephen Whitson, with choreography by Fabian Aloise and set design by Jon Bausor. The musical supervision, orchestrations, and arrangements are handled by Jason Howland.

The creative team is further strengthened by musical director Katy Richardson, music producers Billy Jay Stein and Strange Cranium, and costume designer Sachiko Nakahara. Other design roles include Jen Schriever on lighting, Peter Hylenski on sound, and Akhila Krishnan on video design, with Paul Kieve contributing illusions.

Death Note: The Musical’s UK premiere is part of a continuing interest in manga-inspired theatre and adaptations of Japanese pop culture for Western audiences, capitalising on a growing appetite for cross-cultural storytelling within the musical theatre landscape.