Flyby gets strong London reviews

Flyby opened at Southwark Playhouse Borough in London this month with a split critical verdict, including at least one four-star notice and several sharply mixed reviews. (southwarkplayhouse.co.uk) The new musical is written by Theo Jamieson and directed and co-created by Adam Lenson, and it is running at Southwark Playhouse Borough from April 3 to May 16, 2026. The venue lists it as a six-week world-premiere run in The Large auditorium. (southwarkplayhouse.co.uk) The story follows astronaut Daniel and documentary filmmaker Emily after Daniel steals a spacecraft and disappears into space. Southwark Playhouse says the show shifts between past and present to trace their relationship, his psychological unravelling, and her struggle with ambition and identity. (southwarkplayhouse.co.uk) The strongest early notices focused on the show’s ambition rather than its neatness. The Arts Desk called it “one of the best new British musicals” the reviewer had seen in years, while London Theatre said the piece “isn’t easy to define” and praised Stuart Thompson and Poppy Gilbert in the lead roles. (theartsdesk.com) (londontheatre.co.uk) What On Stage also gave the production a positive review, describing the premise as an emotional escape fantasy built around deep space and personal damage. Read About Stuff rated it four stars and said the show made a sci-fi musical feel grounded. (whatsonstage.com) (readaboutstuff.com) Other critics were less persuaded by the same structure. BroadwayWorld said the show “fails to take flight,” Time Out called it “too scrappy to achieve lift off,” and Theatre Weekly wrote that the promised cosmic love story did not fully cohere onstage. (broadwayworld.com) (timeout.com) (theatreweekly.com) That split matters in the Off-West End ecosystem because Flyby is not a revival or a transfer but a new British musical in a 2026 London market crowded with familiar titles. The production was originally developed in 2025 by the National Theatre, according to the show’s official site and ticketing materials. (flybymusical.com) (londontheatre.co.uk) The cast is small, with five credited performers: Stuart Thompson as Daniel, Poppy Gilbert as Emily, and Gina Beck, Rupert Young, and Simbi Akande in supporting roles. Reviewers across positive and negative notices separately pointed to the cast and Libby Todd’s design as standout elements. (uktw.co.uk) (londontheatre1.com) Southwark Playhouse lists the running time at 1 hour 45 minutes with no interval and no latecomers, while some ticket agents list it closer to 1 hour 30 minutes. The official venue page remains the clearest source for the current run details. (southwarkplayhouse.co.uk) (londonboxoffice.co.uk) For now, the clearest takeaway from Flyby’s opening is that London critics agree on the scale of the swing, even when they disagree on the landing. The show continues at Southwark Playhouse Borough through May 16. (theartsdesk.com) (broadwayworld.com) (southwarkplayhouse.co.uk)