The musical “The Notebook” is coming to London’s West End.
Based on Nicholas Sparks’ best-selling novel and subsequent hit film starring Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling, the show will be the first production at the newly renamed Judi Dench Theater (formerly the Shaftesbury Theatre). With music and lyrics by “You and I” singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson and book by Bekah Brunstetter, the West End run of “The Notebook” will be directed by Michael Greif and Schele Williams, with choreography by Katie Spelman.
“The Notebook” has its UK premiere on April 13, 2027, with previews available from March 10. The show is currently scheduled to run through December 11, 2027. Tickets will be available from 10am UK time on Thursday, priced at £20; Another 50,000 tickets will be available for £50 or less.
“When I published ‘The Notebook’ 30 years ago, I could not have predicted that this story would have such a lasting impact around the world,” Sparks said in a statement. “The response around the world has been incredible, and I am excited to share this latest development of the story with audiences in London.”
“The Notebook” musical first opened on Broadway in March 2024 and ran through December, followed by a U.S. tour. He received three Tony nominations: best actor for Dorian Harewood, actress for Maryann Plunkett, and book of the musical for Brunstetter. The West End cast has not yet been announced.
“What makes a musical so special to me is its collaborative nature, and I can’t imagine a better team of people could have created ‘The Notebook,'” Michaelson said. “It is such an honor to revisit and perform the piece with Bekah, Michael, Schele and the rest of the cast for this new production in London, and it is beyond exciting that our musical will be the first at the newly named Judi Dench Theatre.”
Brunstetter added: “It’s been a blast adapting ‘The Notebook’ for the stage; it’s a timeless, universal love story that speaks to many facets of life. Ingrid and I loved expanding the story so it really sings and reaches more people. We can’t wait to get back in the room with our wonderful creative team and reinvent this musical for audiences in London.”
The rest of the creative team includes musical 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, musical direction by Jim Henson, and casting by Jill Green. Kevin McCollum, Kurt Deutsch and Jamie Wilson are producing.