London Theatre: Hadestown

I went to see Hadestown a couple of weeks ago, having never heard of it and knowing absolutely nothing about the story. My daughter had wanted to see it, so I took advantage of Kids Week. I listened to a few songs from the soundtrack in the car a couple of days beforehand, but otherwise I really didn’t know what to expect. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! We had a fantastic seat, just two rows from the stage, which made the experience even more incredible; you could really feel the energy from the performers. The singers were phenomenal, the dancers were brilliant and the live band was outstanding. At times, the atmosphere and energy made it feel more like being at a concert than watching a traditional musical! Two weeks later, I still have the songs playing in my head almost constantly. I’d honestly say it’s one of the best musicals I’ve ever seen; definitely in my top three!

Don't see the hype. Band was great, singing was average at best and unfortunately, not sure if it was intentional, but main character's falsetto with the guitar was cringy at best. Many times, performers were noticeably off-key which I found shocking at this level. Choreography was excellent but adapted story was weak. Honestly, after the first act, I seriously thought of leaving because of boredom. There were no memorable moments in this performance. Obviously, this wasn't my cup of tea. Definitely not the "best show in town" in my opinion.

Great show, approx two hours plus an interval. All music performed live on stage by the band a cast. The theme follows tragic love stories of Orpheus and Eurydice, and Hades and Persephone (ancient Greek myth), a timeline seemingly set around the early expansion of the American Railroad, with music influenced by gospel and jazz. A random mix, but it works.

HadesTown is currently (July 2026) performing at the Lyric Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue. We attended on a Saturday matinee. The overall experience was enjoyable and worth going. As a mobility challenged person using a walking stick I can highly recommend the theatre itself. the minute I walked into the foyer, a member of staff approached me, insisted on escorting me all the way to my seat, showing me where the disabled toilet was en route. It was a very hot day. The theatre is air conditioned. I was brought a glass of iced water to sip during the first half of the show by one usher and another one during the interval. At the end of the show I was then escorted all the way out of the theatre, via the disabled toilet!. The staff couldn't have been kinder. Going forward, it might even encourage me to see any show/play at the Lyric. It was easy to get a taxi afterwards. The actual show: HadesTown is about Orpheus in the Underworld (Hades). The musical was imaginative, and the performances of the cast were very good, the singing, all with microphones was good, it was very lively and dynamic and most of the audience enjoyed it. It was in interesting interpretation of Orpheus in the Underworld. However, about 75% of the time it was loud, loud, loud, loud with no poignancy nor variation of mood. The musical was based around a song which Orpheus was in the middle of composing and eventually composed it all leading to a chance to bring Eurydice back from the underworld. We were expecting the finished song to be wonderful. It was so unmemorable, we could have written it in half an hour; and there wasn't one other song which stayed in one's head after we had left the theatre. I always think that is a good sign of a good song, e.g. Memory, Mr Mcalister etc. The whole experience was more like being in a very loud night club. However, with more thought it could have been a much better show although there was a standing ovation at the end. London Theatre audiences are interesting! There is still time at least to rethink the cast presence on the stage and the delivery of the songs.

The music is brilliant but there are some elements of the show that have you walking away cringing. The performers regularly went off key which was very off putting and some of the casting was def questionable. For all the awards it has received and the ticket prices being demanded I’m not so sure I would rush back

Hadestown is not a bad show, but it's certainly not great. I found it considerably less compelling than its reputation and ticket prices suggest. The strongest element is undoubtedly the music. The score is entertaining with a bluesy folk-jazz sound, and the singers are capable. That said, I didn't find the music especially memorable or inventive in the way that, for example, Hamilton felt, which is much sharper and more distinctive. Hadestown has atmosphere, but it feels a bit dull and even cheesy. My larger issue is with the storytelling. When a production retells a myth, it generally needs to do one of two things: either adapt the original with enough fidelity to preserve its emotional and symbolic power, or depart from it in a way that reveals a genuinely new angle. Hadestown sits awkwardly between the two. Its Depression-era/New Orleans-inspired with a kind of industrial underworld aesthetic which is a *choice*, and perhaps even visually and musically coherent on the surface, but I was not convinced that it added enough substance to the story itself. The world of the show often felt like a design concept imposed on the myth rather than a reinterpretation that deepened it. It did not contribute anything meaningful to the storytelling so felt rather jarring. This was all rather disappointing given that the original myth of Orpheus and Eurydice already has enormous emotional potential: love, loss, trust, doubt and the devastating consequences of one irreversible choice. Yet in this version, the stakes often felt muted - which I guess is an achievement in its own right? I found it difficult to connect with the characters, perhaps not entirely because of the actors, who do what they can with the material. The writing does not give the relationships enough depth or urgency, and the songs are okay. The characters' actions should feel tragic and inevitable, but they felt underdeveloped. The production design also left me underwhelmed. It gave the impression of a relatively low-budget dystopian show. I never felt that the visual world became spectacular enough to justify the premium pricing - so, make sure to get cheaper tickets as you won't be losing much on the visuals.

Horrible experience. Couldn't hear a thing as we found out they'd done a "school's special" so just about everyone else in the audience was a school child who didn't want to be there. Couldn't actually hear the show and left at the interval. If they are going to invite schools in they should make it schools only and not expect people to pay full price for tickets when they're not going to be able to enjoy the show over the badly behaved children.

It was incredible. The performers were fantastic, and the story captivated me from beginning to end. It was entertaining, and the mix with modern music added a lightness to the whole story that is usually not present in a tragedy. Absolutely recommended!!!!

The music is good, great to have a live band, but the story line is very weak. Very one dimensional and just not very interesting or gripping Sorry would not recommend - plenty of other better productions

Fabulous soul/ blues jazz music and choreography. Hermes is the absolute star of show. Which is why second half isn't quite as good.