Everything You Should Know About Beetlejuice The Musical Coming to the West End in 2026

Beetlejuice The Musical arrives in London in 2026. A guide to the story, songs, creative team, and what to expect from the West End debut.

Everything you should know about Beetlejuice The Musical

In October 2025, it was confirmed that Beetlejuice The Musical would make its West End debut. After its Broadway run and a long international touring life, the production was announced for London, with performances planned for 2026. The reveal landed quietly but confidently, placing the show among the more anticipated West End arrivals of the season rather than treating it as a novelty transfer.

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What is Beetlejuice The Musical about

The musical draws from Tim Burton’s 1988 film but reshapes the story for the stage. At its centre is Lydia Deetz, a teenager dealing with grief after the death of her mother and feeling increasingly disconnected from her father, Charles. When the family moves into a new house, Lydia discovers it is already occupied by Adam and Barbara Maitland, a recently deceased couple still trying to understand how the afterlife works. Their decision to summon Beetlejuice, a chaotic demon with his own agenda, sets off a chain of events that quickly slips out of control. Lydia, able to see the ghosts, becomes the only one positioned to push back.

Who created Beetlejuice The Musical

The show features music and lyrics by Eddie Perfect, whose score moves between sharp humour and emotional restraint without softening either. The book is written by Scott Brown and Anthony King, whose writing leans into self awareness rather than sentimentality. Direction comes from Alex Timbers, whose work favours momentum, theatrical excess, and a willingness to let the audience in on the joke.

When was the musical first staged

Beetlejuice The Musical was first performed in Washington DC in 2018 before opening on Broadway in 2019. It ran at the Winter Garden Theatre until 2023 and returned for a second Broadway engagement in 2025. Beyond New York, the production toured extensively across the United States and appeared in international productions in Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Australia, and several European territories.

Has the show received awards or nominations

During its Broadway run, the musical received eight Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical. Alex Brightman, who originated the role of Beetlejuice, was nominated for Best Actor in a Musical. The production was also recognised for its direction and design by the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama League.

Who are the main characters

Beetlejuice sits at the centre of the story, a centuries old demon driven by attention and control rather than charm. Lydia Deetz forms the emotional core, observant, resistant, and unwilling to be ignored. Adam and Barbara Maitland are a kind but overwhelmed couple navigating death without guidance. Charles Deetz struggles to connect with his daughter, while Delia brings confidence, colour, and disruption into the household. A wider group of Netherworld figures expands the story’s scope, often pushing scenes into controlled chaos.

What kind of music does the show feature

The score blends rock influences with contemporary musical theatre. Songs such as The Whole Being Dead Thing, Dead Mom, Say My Name, and That Beautiful Sound are used to carry narrative weight rather than pause the story. Music often arrives at moments of pressure, sharpening character rather than smoothing emotion.

Where and when will the West End production open

The London production will open at the Prince Edward Theatre on Old Compton Street, placing the show in the middle of Soho’s theatre district, an area more used to late nights than quiet revivals. The venue suits a production that relies on scale, movement, and visual density. When the transfer was announced in October 2025, performances were confirmed to begin in 2026, with booking expected to extend into 2027. Full scheduling details and the official running time had yet to be confirmed, though the Broadway version ran for around two and a half hours.

Who will star in the West End cast

At the time of the announcement, casting details had not been revealed. While Alex Brightman and Sophia Anne Caruso originated the lead roles on Broadway, it remained unclear whether any original cast members would appear in London or whether a new UK cast would take on the characters.

Why this West End transfer stands out

Beetlejuice The Musical arrives in London with a reputation built on visual invention, direct humour, and emotional grounding beneath its noise. Its mix of dark comedy, technical ambition, and character led storytelling places it within a newer wave of musicals that resist polish in favour of presence. For West End audiences, the appeal lies in seeing a familiar story pushed into something louder, stranger, and unapologetically theatrical.