REVIEW: DARK OF THE MOON @ CHARING CROSS THEATRE

🎭 Dark of the Moon

📍 Charing Cross Theatre, Villiers Street, London, WC2N 6NL

🗓 Tuesday 26th May 2026

⭐️ 4 Stars

STRIKING, SPELLBINDING, AND SUBLIMELY STAGED

Making my way across London on what was officially the hottest UK May Day on record, I found myself trapped on a hot, stuffy bus that felt more like a mobile sauna than public transport. The air was thick, the passengers were miserable, and eventually, I couldn’t take it anymore. I got off early and walked the remaining distance through the sweltering, sun-baked streets, wondering if I’d even survive the evening. What an absolute joy it was then, to step inside the Charing Cross Theatre and discover they have genuinely adequate air conditioning! I could have wept with pure relief right there in the foyer before the house lights even went down.

I'll admit, I headed into the auditorium with a fair bit of trepidation. Turning an atmospheric, text-heavy 1941 play by Howard D. Richardson and William Berney into a full-scale musical is no easy feat, and I didn't entirely know what to expect from this world premiere. But I was more than pleasantly surprised by the sheer scale, ambition, and execution of what was presented on that stage.

The premise and storyline of the musical are expertly handled - retaining the dark, unsettling core of the original source material. The narrative tracks a forbidden, star-crossed romance between a human girl, Barbara Allen, and a witch-boy, John, who desperately tries to live in the mortal world through a dangerous, high-stakes supernatural bargain. The sheer strength of the writing and storytelling here is magnificent. There is absolutely nothing predictable about the book. It avoids cheap clichés and keeps you guessing at every turn. In fact, the first act builds to such a massive, gripping cliffhanger that it left the entire audience breathless. It had me desperate to get back to my seat as quickly as possible after the interval to find out the outcome.

Visually, the piece is nothing short of stunning, making incredible use of the venue's unique, intimate layout. I am increasingly becoming a major fan of Libby Todd's set designs, and this one is truly great. It is remarkably versatile, utilising beautifully crafted, movable wooden pieces to masterfully set the scene, shift perspectives, and wonderfully evoke the rugged, isolated Appalachian era.

Working hand-in-hand with the rustic scenery is Jonathan Chan’s lighting design, which is a thing of absolute beauty. Chan creates a wonderful, deeply immersive atmosphere throughout the night. I adored his use of distinct purple washes for the mystical characters. It is especially clever when John the Witch Boy stands directly among the townspeople, yet remains bathed in that eerie, otherworldly purple glow to emphasise his isolation. Equally striking is when the supernatural Coven hovers menacingly above the townspeople, with the stage split into brilliant, contrasting washes of warm, earthy tones for the mortals and cold, piercing light for the spirits.

The show boasts an incredibly unique musical concept. The human community expresses themselves through country and bluegrass, while the witches belt out aggressive, contemporary rock. This stylistic clash brings me to my only real niggle of the night, and that lies with the lyrics. I found the lyrics of the witches' rock songs to be somewhat weaker and less impactful than the beautifully evocative material written for the townsfolk. It didn't surprise me to learn afterwards that the songs were written by three different people, as the score occasionally lacks a singular cohesive voice in its poetry. However, the performances themselves are so fantastic that this ultimately remains a small, passing gripe in an overall great production.

The show is led by a fantastic cast, anchored by the powerhouse pairing of Glenn Adamson and Lauren Jones. Jones gives a grounded, deeply believable performance as Barbara Allen, infusing the character with so much heart, grit, and vulnerability. Her vocals are stunning; her rendition of "Wildflower" was my personal favourite moment of the night, a performance so pure and emotionally resonant that I could have closed my eyes and just bathed in the beauty of her voice.

Adamson is the perfect foil. His edgy, rock-infused vocals are ideal for John the Witch Boy, soaring effortlessly into the stratosphere with raw power and intense passion. He captures the creature's desperate yearning for humanity perfectly. Together, Adamson and Jones blend beautifully, both vocally and emotionally, anchoring the supernatural stakes in genuine, heartbreaking human feeling.

That strength is notable across the entire company - honestly, there is no weak link to be found here. Kiah Lindsay opens and closes the show with some truly haunting, atmosphere-setting vocals that send shivers down the spine. It is always an absolute pleasure to see Martin Callaghan on stage, and as Preacher Haggler, he is wonderfully likeable. Callaghan lands his lines with utter precision, instinctively knowing exactly when he wants the audience to listen intently to his sermon and when he wants them to laugh. There are further standout performances from Josie Benson — those vocals are out of this world! - as well as Sue Appleby, David-Michael Johnson, and Wills Mercado, who all help flesh out this fractured community.

DARK OF THE MOON is a bold, atmospheric, and highly original piece of musical theatre that completely defied my anxieties. It more than proved itself as a world premiere well worth braving the heat for.

DARK OF THE MOON plays at the Charing Cross Theatre until Saturday 8th August. CLICK HERE for more information and to book tickets. Believe the hype and be quick though, you don't want to miss the musical production of the summer.

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one person.

My ticket for this performance of Dark of the Moon was gifted by ANRPR who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.

CAST LIST:

Glenn Adamson as John the Witch Boy; Lauren Jones as Barbara Allen; Sue Appleby as Gemma Allen; Thomas-Lee Kidd as Thomas Allen; Martin Callaghan as Preacher Haggler; David-Michael Johnson as Ralph Wharton; Wills Mercado as Floyd Allen; Samuel Murray as Marvin Hudgens; Josie Benson as Conjur Woman; Gary Turner as Conjur Man; Appolilly Szwarc as Arwen; Al Knott as Raven; Jordan Broatch as Devin; Kiah Lindsay as A Singer / Katie; Gemma Maclean as Patricia Bergen; Sophie Duncan as Ella Weston; Vieve Hamilton as Onstage Swing; Will Foggin as Onstage Swing; Nick Wyschna as Onstage Swing

RUNNING TIME (approx):

2 hours 30 minutes, including interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

Gunshots; Fire; Blood; Pregnancy loss; Flashing lights; Haze

AGE GUIDANCE:

12+

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