Hadestown
As winter comes, Orpheus and Eurydice can’t live on music alone. Eurydice is drawn to Hadestown, can Orpheus save her?
Anais Mitchell and Rachel Chavkin’s musical is revised and revived following runs at the National Theatre in 2018 and on Broadway in 2022.
*OFFICIAL LONDON THEATRE – NEW YEAR SALE*
Offer expires: Tue, 31st March 2026
Book between: Tue, 18th November 2025 and Sat, 31st January 2026
Shows include: Arthur, Back To The Future The Musical, Black Is The Color Of My Voice, The Boy At The Back Of The Class, Cabaret, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story, Daniel’s Husband, The Devil Wears Prada, Disney’s Hercules, Disney’s The Lion King, The Firework Maker’s Daughter, Hadestown, Hamilton, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, High Noon, The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, Hooray For Hollywood, Into The Woods, Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical, Kinky Boots, Lost Atoms, Lucie Jones: Live At The London Palladium, Magic Mike Live, Mamma Mia!, Matilda The Musical, Les Misérables, MJ The Musical, The Mousetrap, My Neighbour Totoro, Oh Mary!, Oliver!, The Opera Locos, Othello, The Phantom Of The Opera, The Play That Goes Wrong, Potted Panto, The Producers, The Rapping Princess, The Red Shoes, Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, Six, The Snowman, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, Starlight Express, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Sunny Afternoon, Titaníque, Top Hat, Tutu, Twelfth Night, Wicked, Witness For The Prosecution.
The above productions are participating in the annual Society of London Theatre "NEW YEAR SALE" #GetIntoLondonTheatre event.
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(seen at the afternoon performance on 24th February 2024)
The monkey was less than enamoured with the original London incarnation of this show at the Olivier Theatre in November 2018. A garbled story over-stretched and lacking punch in either lyric or music was its conclusion back then.
Six years on, in the far smaller Lyric Theatre and trailing Broadway glory, this re-written and more tightly focussed version is almost unrecognisable.
Young Orpheus (Simon Oskarsson, covering for absent Donal Finn) is an ambitious waiter in New Orleans, songwriter who subconsciously resurrects an ancient tune - according to our hot narrator Hermes (Melanie La Barrie).
Not yet renamed Evri, but mother – slipping into panto Fairy Godmother as she speaks always in rhyme – and guide to a world in which Greek myth and the Jazz era collide. Swinging with style, her pacey opening number connects, so that she never loses the audience thereafter.
Adopting a railroad synonym for Depression years USA, we meet lost child Eurydice (Grace Hodgett Young) with whom Orpheus is smitten. Hodgett Young makes it two hits in a row following her unforgettable performance in “Sunset Boulevard” last autumn. Her more interesting songs and strong vocal aid Oskarsson to build his lesser written role into a credible couple.
From the underworld, Zachary James and Gloria Onitiri as Hades and Persephone dominate proceedings as they should. He is devious, evil and has a seductive bluster for which nobody can blame Eurydice for falling.
Already trapped, Onitiri’s Persephone makes the most of her few months of freedom with a trademark show-stopping presence whenever required.
Adding a trio of Fates and chorus of workers, the small stage is filled with a buzz dissipated on the first outing in a far bigger auditorium. Director Rachel Chavkin is able to explain Greek mythology to a reluctant monkey, and hold its interest, a victory in itself.
Her cast land “Road to Hell,” “Wedding Song,” “Way Down Hadestown” and “Why We Build The Wall” with impact, yet “Flowers” which the monkey enjoyed last time seemed somehow less in the “11 O’Clock number” position at the start of act two.
And there lies the problems the monkey still has with the show. The first half has a few longueurs, the second act seems almost redundant halfway through. It takes too long, and seems to jump something in Hades / Persephone’s relationship before the final challenge to the imprisoned young lovers is revealed. Once there, “Doubt Comes In” is a long sequence yielding little result.
David Neumann’s choreography is constrained by the size of the stage, and feels derivative in a constant pattern of circles. A peculiar single scene change – the side platforms sliding outwards – seems redundant in Rachel Hauck’s chilled Southern State set design, which, with Bradley King’s dappled light and Michael Krass’s careful costumes, meld effectively the mortal and immortal storylines visually.
There is a saying that ‘everything old is new again,’ and this show proves the point. An ancient story of self-obsession and venal love, grand gestures and poor choices made on shallow, seductive promises are in tune with our era – and explain why the show has grown a cult following among young musical theatre fans who identify with the emotions on display.
Not a show that the monkey itself relates to on the same level, but it is an ensemble effort offering strong performances, pleasing visuals and a taste of something slightly different - classical and contemporary - to the West End musical theatre scene.
Hadestown:
Fri, 6th September 2024Fantastic show, great lyrics and performances, loved the staging, still felt fresh and different.
Seats (Grand Circle G8, 9 and 10):Seated in Grand Circle Row G (right at back of circle) in seats 8,9,10. Very little legroom but very good view of the main stage. Be aware the upper part of the set and balcony scenes are NOT visible from this row and seats unless you lean down and put your head on your neighbours lap! But for the price an overall good view. Bit cheeky to not declare limited visibility on the booking site.
Venue:
Smooth entry process and quick service at the bar. Lyric is always a lovely experience
I think Grand Circle A43 at the Lyric underplays them”restricted view”! Even leaning over the ledge, 50% of the stage was missed as the ledge in front is so high!!
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Grand Circle, D15 to 17. Legroom is desperate even for the shortest amongst us, seats are very low (pray for someone not too tall in front), very central, great view. It doesn’t seem like an upper circle because the circle is so low down, I was worried I’d gone to the dress circle by mistake!
The monkey advises checking performance times on your tickets and that performances are happening as scheduled, before travelling.
| Run Time: | 2 hours 30 minutes, including one interval |
| Monday: | X |
| Tuesday: | 7.30pm |
| Wednesday: | 7.30pm |
| Thursday: | 2.30pm, 7.30pm |
| Friday: | 7.30pm |
| Saturday: | 2.30pm, 7.30pm |
| Sunday: | 3pm |
Notes:
HOLIDAY SEASON PERFORMANCE CHANGES
Show performance times change during the Holiday Season. The monkey's famous charts showing them all can be found here:
For Monday 15th December 2025 until Sunday 21st December 2025, click here.
For Monday 22nd December 2025 until Sunday 28th December 2025, click here.
For Monday 29th December 2025 until Sunday 4th January 2026, click here.
Venue Box Office & Current Prices
0330 333 4812Venue box office details and show price charts are available on the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue page.
Ticketpipe
HadestownTodayTix
Hadestown
TodayTix charge between 10% and 20% booking fee per ticket. Discounts are often available as this is a large global ticketing company with this specific aim.
Ticketmaster
Hadestown
Ticketmaster charge around 8% to 10% booking fee per ticket. Handling fees may also be added. This is the largest ticketing agency worldwide.
See Tickets
Hadestown
See Tickets charge around 10% booking fee per ticket, plus £2.75 per booking (not per ticket) postal charge. They are owned by ticketing group Eventim.
LoveTheatre.com
Hadestown
LOVEtheatre charge around 10% booking fee per ticket. They are owned by Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) and often have good deals on shows at ATG venues.
London Theatre Direct
Hadestown
London Theatre Direct charge between 10% and 25% booking fee per ticket. Discounts are frequently available. Part of Trafalgar Theatre Group, known for customer service and unique offers.
Address: 29 Shaftesbury Avenue, Soho, W1D 7ES
Box Office: 0330 333 4812
More details: Seats to buy or avoid at this venue plus travel information and other details can be found on the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue page
