Everything you need to know about 'Stereophonic' in the West End

The celebrated play with music about a Fleetwood Mac-esque rock band transfers from Broadway this summer.

This summer, the West End will welcome David Adjmi’s play Stereophonic, with music by former Arcade Fire member Will Butler. The audience is granted a fly-on-the-wall insight into the recording of a rock album, where nothing runs smoothly.

Read our guide to learn more about this distinctive and multi-award-winning show, which received more Tony nominations than any other play in the awards’ history to date.

Book Stereophonic tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

What is Stereophonic about?

Set in 1976-77, Stereophonic is about a fictional British-American rock band who are on the verge of hitting the big time as they record their new album. Due to tensions within the group, including romantic entanglements and drug and alcohol abuse, the recording process takes much longer than expected. Can they complete the project without the band exploding?

Is Stereophonic a play or a musical?

Stereophonic is a play with music. The original songs are performed live, with the actors playing the instruments themselves.

Who wrote Stereophonic?

Stereophonic is written by David Adjmi, whose previous plays include Stunning, Marie Antoinette, and The Stumble. He is also the author of the memoir Lot Six. The music and lyrics are by Will Butler, a former member of the indie-rock band Arcade Fire and also a successful solo artist.

Who is in the Stereophonic creative team?

Stereophonic is directed by London-born Daniel Aukin, who served as artistic director of the experimental Soho Repertory Theatre between 1999-2006. The set design is by three-time Tony winner David Zinn (SpongeBob SquarePants), with costume design by Enver Chakartash (Romeo + Juliet), lighting design by Jiyoung Chang (Slave Play), and sound design by Ryan Rumery (Be More Chill).

Has Stereophonic been performed before?

Writer Adjmi and composer Butler first conceived the idea for Stereophonic in 2014 and the piece was workshopped at the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab in 2018. Stereophonic was first performed Off Broadway at the Playwrights Horizon in October 2023. It transferred to Broadway’s John Golden Theatre in April 2024, where it played until January 2025. The London transfer marks the first time that it has been seen beyond New York.

What awards has Stereophonic won?

To date, Stereophonic holds the most nominations for a play in the history of the Tony Awards, having received 13 nods. It won five awards: Best Play, Best Direction of a Play, Best Scenic Design, Best Sound Design, and Best Featured Actor in a Play (Will Brill). It was also nominated for Best Original Score, which is fairly rare for a non-musical. The Off-Broadway premiere also received seven Drama Desk Awards.

Who is in the cast of Stereophonic?

Andrew R. Butler, Eli Gelb, and Chris Stack have been confirmed to reprise their roles as Charlie, Grover, and Simon respectively. Further casting is to be announced.

Where is Stereophonic playing?

Stereophonic is playing at the Duke of York’s Theatre, located on St Martin’s Lane (just off Covent Garden). This venue seats 640 audience members and is currently home to Elektra, directed by Daniel Fish and starring Brie Larsen.

When is Stereophonic playing?

Stereophonic is booking from 24 May to 20 September 2025. Performances take place from Monday to Saturday at 7pm, with matinees on Thursdays and Saturdays at 1pm.

How long is Stereophonic?

Stereophonic is 3 hours 10 minutes long, including an interval.

Who are the characters in Stereophonic?

Stereophonic features the following cast of characters:

Reg: The band’s bassist and hellraiser.

Diana: Vocalist and tambourine player, who suffers from anxiety.

Peter: Guitarist and vocalist, the driving force of the band and Diana’s boyfriend.

Holly: Keyboardist and vocalist, a stoic presence and Reg’s wife.

Simon: Drummer and the band’s de facto manager

Grover: Recording engineer.

Charlie: Assistant recording engineer

What are the songs in Stereophonic?

Stereophonic features the following songs:

"Seven Roads"

"Bright v1"

"Masquerade"

"Bright (Fast)"

"Drive"

"Champagne"

"East of Eden"

"Domino"

"'It's made of teak'"

"In Your Arms"

"BVs"

"Exorcist II"

"Campfire Masquerade"

"Bright (Take 22)"

What are some fun facts about Stereophonic?

• The band in the show has been compared to Fleetwood Mac, to the extent that the authors of a book about the recording of the band’s album Rumours filed a lawsuit accusing the makers of Stereophonic of producing an unauthorised adaptation. The lawsuit was settled out of court in December 2024.
• The production's commitment to authenticity extends to using real recording equipment, and the funky 1970s outfits were sourced from vintage shops.
• Director Daniel Aukin is the son of Nancy Meckler, former artistic director of the pioneering theatre company Shared Experience. His father David Aukin was previously artistic director of Hampstead Theatre, executive director of the National Theatre, and Head of Film at Channel 4.
• While it isn't common for non-musicals to be nominated for the Tony Award for Best Original Score, as the 2019-20 season was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic, only four musicals had opened and three were jukebox musicals (the fourth was The Lightning Thief). So, all nominees in 2021 were plays: A Christmas Carol, The Inheritance, The Rose Tattoo, Slave Play, and The Sound Inside. Christopher Nightingale won for his work on A Christmas Carol.

Book Stereophonic tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.