I’m not going to lie, Dark of the Moon sounds very up my street.
A love story, witches, small-town tension, a bit of danger, and a country-meets-rock score? Big yes from me. It feels darker, moodier and a bit more unexpected and let’s face it, this is exactly what the musical scene in London has been missing.
There is something about shows like this that just pull you in. You can already picture the atmosphere. The intensity. The drama. It does not sound cute or easy or overly polished. It sounds like the kind of show that could end up with a very loyal following because people get slightly obsessed with it.
What is Dark of the Moon about?
The story follows Barbara Allen, a human girl, and John, a witch-boy, who fall for each other even though everything around them is telling them they should not. It is set between a rural Appalachian town and the world of witches and warlocks in the Smoky Mountains, so there is already a strong contrast built into it before you even get to the love story.
And that is probably why it works. It is not just romance for the sake of it. There is fear in it, prejudice in it, and that feeling that something bad could happen at any moment. Those are usually the stories that leave more of an impression because they have more at stake.
Why this one feels different
What makes Dark of the Moon interesting is that it does not sound like it is trying to be everything for everyone. It has a very clear mood. Dark, romantic, eerie, a little wild.
I also think the music is a big part of why it feels so distinctive. Country, bluegrass and rock is not the standard London musical formula, which is exactly why it feels fresh. If they get that right, it could give the whole show a real identity rather than just sounding like another new score.
And honestly, theatre is always more exciting when a show feels like it has its own world. Something specific that we can look forward to.
The casting makes a lot of sense
Glenn Adamson as John, The Witch Boy, feels like very smart casting. He already has that rock-musical energy people love, so putting him in a show like this feels like a strong move. Lauren Jones as Barbara Allen also makes sense to me because she has that intensity that stops a role like this from feeling flat.
For a story like this, the central relationship has to work. You have to believe that these two people would risk everything for each other. If that chemistry is there, I can really see this being the kind of show people come out of talking about properly.
Charing Cross Theatre feels like the right home for it
I actually think Charing Cross Theatre is a great fit for something like this. It is intimate enough that a story with this much tension and atmosphere could feel properly close and immersive, which is exactly what you want. This does not feel like a show that needs loads of distance around it. It feels like one that works better when you are right there with it.
It also feels like the kind of musical that suits that venue’s audience. A bit cult. A bit emotional. A bit less obvious than the bigger commercial openings.
Dark of the Moon at Charing Cross Theatre dates
Dark of the Moon runs at Charing Cross Theatre from Monday 18 May to Saturday 8 August 2026.
The national press night is on Tuesday 26 May 2026 at 7:30pm.
Performance times are:
Tuesday to Saturday at 7:30pm
Wednesday at 2:30pm
Saturday and Sunday at 3:00pm
The show is recommended for ages 15+.
Get your tickets to Dark of the Moon here.
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I’m Rosie!
