The Guardian
"A gorgeous, myth-laden journey - one of the most beautiful scores written for the stage in years."
Winner of eight Tony Awards, Hadestown is one of the most acclaimed musicals of recent years, and since arriving at London’s Lyric Theatre in 2024 it has become a firm West End favourite. Written by singer-songwriter Anais Mitchell and shaped over more than a decade by director Rachel Chavkin, it retells two ancient Greek myths as one smoky, soulful piece of theatre.
At its centre are Orpheus, a young musician who believes his song can set the world right, and Eurydice, who is tired, hungry and drawn to the promise of safety underground. Their love story is entwined with that of Hades and Persephone, the troubled king and queen of the underworld, in a tale about hope, doubt and whether it is worth trying to mend a broken world even when the odds are against you.
Why it’s worth the watch
Hadestown feels both timeless and completely of the moment. Here is why audiences fall for it:
- The sound. Anais Mitchell’s score blends New Orleans jazz, blues and American folk into something you will not hear anywhere else in the West End.
- The staging. Rachel Chavkin’s Tony-winning production, built around a revolving stage and a live on-stage band, is stylish and hypnotic.
- The story. An ancient myth about love, art and perseverance, told with a knowing modern edge.
- The songs. ‘Wait for Me’, ‘Way Down Hadestown’ and the showstopping ‘Why We Build the Wall’ stay with you long after the curtain falls.
