The new stage adaptation of the hit manga 'Death Note' has opened at the Barbican Centre, and while it remains remarkably faithful to its source material, it misses the opportunity to add emotional depth, according to a review from Time Out's Andrzej Lukowski. The musical, which runs from 18 August to 12 September 2026, has received a 3-out-of-5-star rating.
Faithful to the Manga, But Maybe Too Faithful
Death Note: The Musical is based on the classic mid-2000s manga by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. The story follows Light Yagami, a Tokyo high school student who obtains a notebook from a death spirit that kills anyone whose name is written in it. The adaptation by Frank Wildhorn, Jack Murphy, and Ivan Menchell draws largely from the first half of the series and simplifies the plot, but it does not take major liberties beyond turning the story into a sung-through musical.
The show has proven popular with fans, with a notably large number of boy tweens in the audience at a recent performance. The age advice is 12-plus, and the review notes that parents might hesitate, but the appeal is clear. However, for those unfamiliar with the manga, the story may seem baffling, as characters behave in bizarre, often sociopathic ways that are accurate to the source but not necessarily compelling on stage.
A Missed Opportunity for Deeper Characterisation
The review argues that the musical's retention of the manga's extreme character behaviours is a missed opportunity. Within 20 minutes, Light (played by Xandar Pang) has become a malevolent sadist, ranting about being a god and focusing on killing the officers assigned to uncover his identity. Scenes feature him cackling in his bedroom with Ryuk (Telly Leung), the whimsical death spirit who gave him the book.
The police, led by Light's father Soichiro Yagami (Paolo Montalban), bring in the enigmatic detective L (Colin Ryan), who conceals his real name and appears as mad as Light, with Ryan giving him a Heath Ledger Joker vibe. The review suggests that the production could benefit from more emotional singing, as the current approach feels superficial and 'ha ha I'm bonkers' rather than tragic.
Emotional Flatness Despite Technical Polish
The review notes that the absence of meaningful emotional development leaves the 2-hour-20-minute runtime feeling flat. The most 'human' characters are the shinigami Rem (Grace Mouat) and Jerasu (Chloe Saracco), with Rem receiving the show's most heartfelt songs because other characters lack feelings. The story never becomes boring, thanks to the gleefully bombastic, tightly drilled, and visually impressive rock musical style, but the emotional core is missing.
Technically, the production shines: Jon Bausor's avant-industrial set is flexible and magnificent, and Fabian Aloise's choreography is kinetic and beautifully stylised. The review concludes that while the show is watchable and fans may enjoy it, there is a better, braver, and more human musical hidden within 'Death Note'.
The musical runs at the Barbican Centre, Beech Street, London EC2Y 8AE, with tickets priced at £25-£165. Performances are scheduled until 12 September 2026, with various matinee and evening shows.
