Broadway blockbuster Hadestown transfers to London's Lyric theatre in 2024

The Tony-winning musical Hadestown will return to the West End of London in 2024. Following a successful U.K. debut at the National Theatre in 2018 and a record-breaking stint on Broadway, this production is poised to amaze audiences at the Lyric Theatre, transporting them to the underworld and back.

A classic story retold

Anaïs Mitchell's Hadestown creates a captivating tale that intertwines two classic love stories: that of teenage dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice and King Hades' troubled relationship with his wife, Persephone. This tale invites audiences to explore themes of love, loss, power, politics, despair, and the enduring hope that transcends all boundaries.

Hadestown gives the tragic love story of Orpheus and Eurydice a fresh life by moving it to a post-apocalyptic image of New Orleans' French Quarter. The soundtrack for the performance includes blues, jazz, gospel, swing, and folk, all set against a backdrop of unusual weather and famine, adding a contemporary twist with references to climate change.

The journey to Hadestown

The transformation of Hadestown from a modest indie theatre effort in Vermont to a Broadway blockbuster is nothing short of amazing. Performances in Vermont and Massachusetts in 2006 soon evolved into a concept album with musicians such as Justin Vernon and Ani DiFranco. Rachel Chavkin, well known for her work on Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, was instrumental in turning Hadestown into a theatre musical.

In 2016, the musical opened off-Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop. It subsequently crossed the Atlantic to the National Theatre in London, where it won acclaim and cemented its reputation as a theatrical phenomenon. The 2019 Broadway premiere was a smashing success, with Hadestown becoming the longest-running production at the Walter Kerr Theatre.

Hadestown won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Direction (Rachel Chavkin), and Best Original Score (Anaïs Mitchell). While casting information has yet to be released, a superb team is working to bring this classic tale to life. Some of the Tony Award winners behind the scenes include Rachel Hauck (set design), Michael Krass (costume design), and Bradley King (lighting design).

The musical is poised to enthral London audiences once again as it makes its West End premiere at the Lyric Theatre on Saturday, February 10, 2024. To book the best seats to Hadestown, view the Lyric Theatre seating plan.