Xander Pang and Colin Ryan have been announced to star in the brand new London production of Death Note: The Musical, opening at the Barbican Theatre from 30 July 2026.
Pang will take on the role of brilliant protagonist Light, while Ryan will play the enigmatic detective L in the reimagined musical, which runs until 12 September 2026, with a press night scheduled for 11 August.
Based on the bestselling manga by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, Death Note: The Musical features music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Jack Murphy and a book by Ivan Menchell.
The production arrives in London following a decade of sold-out runs across Asia and record-breaking concert performances at the London Palladium in 2023.
The story follows Light Yagami, a gifted student who discovers a mysterious notebook that allows him to kill anyone whose name is written in it, sparking a global moral conflict and a high-stakes battle with the detective known only as L.
Pang said: “I cannot explain how excited I am to be playing Light in this totally unique musical and look forward to showing London audiences the wonder of Death Note. To bring this show to the iconic Barbican Theatre is an unbelievable honour, and I can’t wait to share this stage and story with such an amazing team, and with everyone who comes to see it!”
Ryan added: “Death Note is truly iconic, so I’m incredibly excited and proud to be stepping into the mind of L. I can’t wait to help bring this production to life at the Barbican this summer.”
This new staging promises a revised script and newly written songs alongside Wildhorn’s acclaimed original score, brought to life by director Stephen Whitson, designer Jon Bausor and choreographer Fabian Aloise.
One of the most successful manga titles of all time, Death Note has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide and inspired multiple adaptations across film, television and gaming, as well as a hugely popular anime series.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
