“The Notebook” musical is coming to London’s West End.
The show, based on Nicholas Sparks‘ bestselling novel and subsequent hit film starring Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling, will be the first production at the newly renamed Judi Dench Theatre (previously the Shaftesbury Theatre). With music and lyrics by “You and I” singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson and book by Bekah Brunstetter, “The Notebook’s” West End run will be directed by Michael Greif and Schele Williams, with choreography from Katie Spelman.
“The Notebook” will have its U.K. premiere on April 13, 2027, with previews from March 10. The run is currently scheduled through Dec. 11, 2027. Tickets are on sale starting Thursday at 10 a.m. U.K. time from £20, with 50,000 tickets available at £50 or under.
“I couldn’t have predicted when I published ‘The Notebook’ 30 years ago that this story would have such a lasting impact around the globe,” Sparks said in a statement. “The worldwide response has been incredible, and I’m thrilled to share this latest evolution of the story with audiences in London.”
“The Notebook” musical originally premiered on Broadway in March 2024 and ran through December, with a U.S. tour following. It received three Tony nominations: best actor for Dorian Harewood, actress for Maryann Plunkett and book of a musical for Brunstetter. The West End cast has yet to be announced.
“The thing that makes a musical so special for me is the collaborative nature of it, and I can’t imagine a better team of people to have built ‘The Notebook,'” Michaelson said. “Getting to revisit and revitalize the piece with Bekah, Michael, Schele and the rest of the team for this new production in London is such an honor, and for our musical to be the first at the newly named Judi Dench Theatre is beyond thrilling.”
Added Brunstetter, “It’s been such a joy to adapt ‘The Notebook’ for the stage — it’s such a timeless, universal love story that speaks to so many aspects of life. Ingrid and I have loved expanding the story so that it truly sings and reaches even more people. We can’t wait to get back in the room with our brilliant creative team and discover this musical all over again for the London audience.”
The rest of the creative team includes music supervision and arrangements by Carmel Dean, scenic design by David Zinn and Brett J. Banakis, costume design by Paloma Young, lighting design by Ben Stanton, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, hair and wig design by Mia Neal, orchestrations by Dean and John Clancy, co-vocal arrangements by Michaelson and Dean, music direction by Jim Henson and casting by Jill Green. Kevin McCollum, Kurt Deutsch and Jamie Wilson produce.