Stereophonic Theatre Breaks
Of course this was a regular occurrence for some sound engineers. But thanks to the huge popular and critical success of Stereophonic and an out of court settlement with Fleetwood Mac (or was that just a rumour?), we can all discover what it was like with this fly-on-the-wall drama about a fictional, multi-national, mixed-gender rock band struggling through the agonizing process of creating their second album—on the brink of either breakout success or near-catastrophic collapse.
Stereophonic boasts original rock music by Will Butler of Arcade Fire that sound perfectly that sound era-authentic and is written by David Adjmi and directed by Daniel Aukin.
Set in a recording studio in 1976 California , Stereophonic made history on Broadway by earning 13 Tony Award nominations, the most ever for any play. It won Best Play, Best Direction for Daniel Aukin and Best Featured Actor (Will Brill). David Zinn’s recreated 1970s studio complete with mixing consoles and shabby furnishings won Best Scenic Design and Best Sound Design was won by Ryan Rumery. It probably would have been a bit embarrassing not to win that one ;-)
The show transferred to London’s Duke of York’s Theatre, earlier this year and has now just extended to 22nd November 2025.
When you see the show, and if you know anything about the back story of the infamous recording sessions of Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, you will see why the out of court settlement might well have been necessary! It is a parallel of their interpersonal dynamics—tension, romance, addiction and creative desperation – that is both embraced and legally contested,
Peter, the controlling, perfectionist guitarist is a close parallel to Lindsey Buckingham whilst Diana, the rising lead singer fighting for artistic autonomy will quickly remind you of Stevie Nicks.
Stereophonic stands out as a theatrical milestone: a genre-defying drama infused with original rock music, richly drawn characters, and a production design so authentic you almost feel the tape hiss. Drawing inspiration from—and echoes of—Fleetwood Mac’s legendary creative swirl, the play captures both the chaos and the beauty of studio artistry. With Tony-award pedigree and powerful London reviews, it’s a must-see for anyone fascinated by the fragile alchemy of music-making.
Stereophonic London Performance Details
- The West End production debuted on 24 May 2025 at the Duke of York’s Theatre, where it continues its run until 22 November 2025
- The performance length is 3 hours 10 minutes with interval.
- Evening Performances: Monday to Saturday at 19:00pm
- Matinees Performances: Thursday and Saturday at 13:00
- Theatre Address: Duke of York`s Theatre, 104 St Martin`s Lane, London, WC2N 4BG
Due to smoking and simulated drug use the production is recommended for audiences aged 13 and over.
Hotels near Stereophonic
The five star Radisson Blue Leicester Square is a 5 star hotel in the heart of London and just a few minutes stroll from the theatre. If you would like a hotel with a pool, there is also the 5 star Londoner Hotel at 38 Leicester Square.
To save a few quid, check out the 4* NYX Hotel London Holborn . It is within walking distance and has a pool. More affordable central four star hotels (although without a pool) are the Thistle Trafalgar Square and the Hotel Indigo Leicester Square.
Three star hotels within a mile of the theatre include the Thistle Bloomsbury Park and the President Hotel. Well worth a look if you are hoping to save the pennies and still be central. They are also just a short walk to Euston, Kings Cross and St Pancras if you came to London by train
Of course the Duke of York’s is just Yards away from Leicester Square on the Northern and Piccadilly Lines, so all of London’s hotels are easy to reach from the theatre.
In summary, Stereophonic is a rich, multi-sensory theatrical experience that plunges audiences into the creative crucible of a rock band’s studio fever dream. Backed by a formidable creative team, a haunting original score, and a gripping narrative, it has become one of the defining plays of the decade—now resonating powerfully in London’s West End.