The Notebook is coming to London. The Broadway musical based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks will make its UK premiere next spring as the opening production at the Judi Dench Theatre, the new name for the Shaftesbury Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue. Previews begin on 10 March 2027, the official opening is on 13 April 2027, and the run is currently booking until 11 December 2027.
Tickets are on sale now through the theatre box office, so fans of the novel and the film can already plan a trip to see the romance of Allie and Noah told in song on a West End stage. From April there will be eight performances a week, including Wednesday and Saturday matinees.
A new musical for the Judi Dench Theatre
The Shaftesbury Theatre takes its new name in February 2027 after Dame Judi Dench. The theatre describes itself as the largest independent theatre in the West End, and says no other West End theatre has been named after an actress.
Dench has a long history with the building. As a founding member of the Theatre of Comedy, a collective of actors and writers who held shares in the theatre, she helped secure its future through the 1980s and early 1990s with a run of comedies starring its members. The Notebook will be the inaugural show under the new name, and our Shaftesbury Theatre guide has seating and travel details for the venue.
The theatre is at 210 Shaftesbury Avenue, close to Holborn and Covent Garden Underground stations, so it is simple to pair a show with dinner in Covent Garden or Soho.
The story of Allie and Noah
Allie and Noah come from different worlds and are separated again and again, yet find their way back to each other and share a lifetime together. Sparks published the novel in 1996, so the London announcement lands in its 30th anniversary year. The story reached a vast new following through the 2004 film starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams.
The show's makers describe it as a joyous, funny and deeply moving new musical about enduring devotion, with dancing in the rain and a near kiss among its most romantic moments.
Sparks said he could not have predicted the lasting impact the story would have around the globe when he published it 30 years ago, and that he was thrilled to share this latest version with London theatregoers.
Who wrote the musical?
The music and lyrics are by singer and songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, and the book is by Bekah Brunstetter, a writer on the television drama This Is Us. Michaelson's score earned a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theatre Album.
Michaelson said that being the opening musical at the newly named Judi Dench Theatre is "beyond thrilling", while Brunstetter said the pair had expanded the story "so that it truly sings" for a wider following.
The London creative team
Michael Greif and Schele Williams, who directed the Broadway staging, return to direct, with choreography by Katie Spelman. Carmel Dean provides music supervision and arrangements and shares the orchestrations with John Clancy. Scenic design is by David Zinn and Brett J Banakis, costume design by Paloma Young, lighting by Ben Stanton, sound by Nevin Steinberg, and hair and wig design by Mia Neal. Jim Henson is music director and casting is by Jill Green Casting.
The production is presented by Kevin McCollum, Kurt Deutsch and Jamie Wilson Productions. London casting has not yet been announced and is expected shortly.
From Broadway to the US tour
The musical began previews at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on 10 February 2024, opened on 14 March and closed on 15 December 2024 after 35 previews and 317 regular performances. It received three Tony Award nominations: Best Book of a Musical for Brunstetter, plus nominations for the performances of Dorian Harewood and Maryann Plunkett.
A North American tour followed, opening in Cleveland, Ohio in September 2025, and it is now in its second year touring North America.
Our critic gave the Broadway production four stars, and you can read our review of the Broadway production for a taste of what is heading to London.
London dates, times and tickets
Previews start on Wednesday 10 March 2027 at 7pm, ahead of the official opening on Tuesday 13 April at 7pm. The run is booking until Saturday 11 December 2027. After opening, performances are Monday to Wednesday at 7pm and Thursday to Saturday at 7.30pm, with matinees on Wednesday at 2pm and Saturday at 2.30pm. The running time has not yet been announced, and the theatre recommends the show for ages 6 and over.
Access performances are planned for September 2027: a captioned performance on Thursday 9 September at 7.30pm, an audio described performance with a touch tour on Saturday 18 September at 2.30pm, and a BSL signed performance on Thursday 23 September at 7.30pm. The audio described performance and touch tour can be booked by phone only, on 0207 379 5399.
We will bring you the London cast as soon as it is announced, and you can find dates, performance times and the latest news on our The Notebook London show page (coming soon).
Header image: Official The Notebook London artwork (uk.notebookmusical.com)
West End Correspondent
Daphne covers West End news for British Theatre: openings, casting, extensions and on-sale alerts across London's major theatres.
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