One Day – The Musical at a glance

Show
One Day – The Musical
Venue
Garrick Theatre, West End
Address
2 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0HH
Nearest station
Leicester Square
Genre
Musical (romance), based on David Nicholls' novel
Running time
About 2 hours 40 minutes, including one interval
Age guidance
12+; drug and alcohol misuse, very strong language, strobe lighting
Dates
17 November 2026 – 14 March 2027
Price range
From £36 (typically £36–£132)
Book
David Greig
Music and lyrics
Abner and Amanda Ramirez (Johnnyswim)
Director
Max Webster
Leads
Jamie Muscato (Dexter), Sharon Rose (Emma)

Expert Review: One Day – The Musical

4.2
★★★★☆

LTH Expert Rating

Reviewed by the London Theatre Hub editorial team. Last updated: 23 September 2026. Rating based on the Edinburgh premiere.

The Verdict

One Day has already had two screen lives, a 2011 film and a 2024 Netflix series, and both wrestled with the same problem: how to cover twenty years of two people's lives without losing the thread. Songs turn out to be a surprisingly good answer. A musical can compress years into a single number and let the characters say out loud what the novel only hints at, and at least one Edinburgh critic argued that this version handles the time-jumps better than either screen adaptation.

The premiere at the Royal Lyceum in spring 2026 was extended by two weeks, and reviews ranged from three to five stars, with four the most common. The Scotsman praised its "rough-edged, down-to-earth magic", while LondonTheatre1 gave it five stars. The criticisms were specific: one reviewer found the sound mix muddy, and Theatre and Tonic felt Emma had lost some of the sharp edges she has on the page. The move from an in-the-round Edinburgh staging to the Garrick's traditional stage is the big unknown. Our 4.2 reflects the Edinburgh run; we'll revisit it once the London production opens.

What Makes It Special

  • A much-loved story. David Nicholls' 2009 novel became a global bestseller, a film and a Netflix series before reaching the stage.
  • Songwriters from outside theatre. Abner and Amanda Ramirez, best known as the recording duo Johnnyswim, write the score.
  • A strong creative team. Playwright David Greig writes the book, and Max Webster, director of the Olivier-winning Life of Pi, directs.
  • The original leads. Jamie Muscato and Sharon Rose carry their Edinburgh performances into London.
  • A proven start. The Edinburgh run was extended before the West End transfer was announced.

You'll love One Day if you...

  • Loved the novel, the film or the Netflix series
  • Enjoy romantic, bittersweet stories about timing and regret
  • Want a new British musical rather than a revival
  • Like character-driven shows over big spectacle
  • Are looking for a date-night show this winter

It might not be for you if you...

  • Want a feel-good musical with no heartbreak
  • Are bringing under-12s — the language and themes are adult
  • Prefer to wait for London reviews before booking
  • Are sensitive to strobe lighting

Best for

  • Date night
  • Fans of the book
  • New musicals
  • Romance
  • Winter nights out
  • Book clubs

Not recommended for under-12s or anyone after a light, purely happy night out.

Critical Reception

One Day – The Musical had its world premiere at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, in March 2026. Reviews were broadly positive, most at four stars. The ratings below are from that premiere; the West End production opens on 17 November 2026 and will be reviewed separately.

  • LondonTheatre1 ★★★★★
  • The Scotsman ★★★★
  • BroadwayWorld ★★★★
  • Theatre and Tonic ★★★

Source: published reviews of the Royal Lyceum Theatre premiere, March 2026.

Everything You Need to Know

What happens in One Day?

Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew meet on 15 July, the night of their graduation in Edinburgh. She is clever, principled and unsure of herself; he is charming, privileged and sure of everything. They spend one night talking, and go their separate ways the next morning.

The same day, every year

The story then revisits the two of them on the same date, year after year. Each visit is a snapshot: where they are living, who they are with, what they have won and lost since the last one. We see only one day a year, and have to fill in the rest ourselves.

Drifting apart, drifting back

Dexter's early success in television brings fame, parties and a steady slide into excess. Emma works dead-end jobs while trying to write. Their friendship survives other partners, arguments and long silences, and the question that runs through the whole story is whether two people who clearly belong together will ever manage to be in the same place at the same time.

Timing

One Day is a love story about timing and missed chances, funny and very sad by turns. If you don't already know how it ends, we won't be the ones to tell you.