After the wild success of Death Note: The Musical last year, it should come as no surprise that Your Lie in April is the latest manga musical to hit the West End. Adapting the hit manga of the same name, written by Naoshi Arakawa, Your Lie in April tells the story of Kosei Arima, a piano prodigy, who loses his ability to hear music after the death of his mother. However, when violinist Kaori Miyazono bombastically enters his life, his world is turned upside down. Running approximately two and a half hours, this coming-of-age story plucks at the heartstrings and reverberates deeply with anime and musical fans alike.

Originally debuting in Tokyo in 2022, with a book by Riko Sakaguchi, music by Frank Wildhorn, and lyrics by Carly Robyn Green and Tracy Miller, Your Lie in April transferred to the West End earlier this year, quite fittingly in April, with an English Language book by Rinne B. Groff. With a lone cherry blossom tree, a central grand piano, and cherry blossoms framing the simply beautiful set designed by Justin Williams, audiences are quickly transported to a Japan in bloom, highlighting the beauty in the setting, while the light and video, designed by Rory Beaton and Dan Light respectively, allow the music and soul at the heart of the piece to shine through.

Wildhorn's score soars off the page, and the musicianship of all involved is incredible. Zheng Xi Yong (Kosei Arima) is an expert pianist in his own right, playing the piano throughout the show to rapturous praise, and Mia Kobayashi is captivating from her first moment as Kaori Miyazono, accompanied by Akiko Ishikawa on violin. The cast as a whole is fantastic, made up entirely of South-East Asian performers, with standout performances from Dean John Wilson (Ryota Watari), Rachel Clare Chan (Tsubaki Sawabe), Ernest Stroud (Takeshi), and Ericka Posadas (Emi).

To call Your Lie in April beautiful barely scratches the surface of this piece. Every facet of this musical has synchronised harmoniously to create something both familiar and new, that will resonate in the hearts of music, theatre, and manga fans alike, and is unlikely to leave a dry eye in the room. This vibrant musical will melt even the hardest of hearts.

***** Five stars

Reviewed by: Jack Francis

If you'd like to see this heartwarming story for yourself, Your Lie in April plays at the Harold Pinter Theatre until 21 September, with tickets available here.