Glenn Adamson and Lauren Jones cast as leads in DARK OF THE MOON

About Dark of the Moon

Based on the 1941 play by Howard D Richardson and William Berney, which in turn was inspired by the Scottish ballad 'Barbara Allen', Dark of the Moon is a supernatural story about witchcraft, small-town prejudices, and the power of love. Barbara Allen, a human girl from a small rural Appalachian town, falls in love with John, a witch boy from the mystical world of witches and warlocks in the Smoky Mountains. The two young lovers defy their communities and dynamically polarised worlds to be together, set to a thrilling score that blends country/bluegrass and rock.

Since its original Broadway production, the play has been performed widely around the world, and was recently referenced in the fifth season of the hit Netflix series, Stranger Things, and plays a crucial role in the stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow.

The cast

Lauren Jones has been cast as Barbara Allen, opposite Glenn Adamson as John. Jones has recently appeared in the UK tour of The Addams Family and the Charing Cross Theatre’s own Rebecca, while Adamson played Strat in Bat Out of Hell.

Jones said, "It’s clear there’s something really special at the heart of this piece", while Adamson added, "This one’s for the Rockers, the Romantics and the Witches among us.”

The creative team

Dark of the Moon is directed by Georgie Rankcom, whose credits include The Frogs, Anyone Can Whistle, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Before After. The creative team also includes choreographer Jane McMurtrie, musical supervisor Brad Haak, musical director Matt Herbert, orchestrator Dillon Kondor, casting director Peter Noden, production designer Libby Todd, lighting designer Jonathan Chan and sound designer Andrew Johnson.

Dark of the Moon will run at the Charing Cross Theatre from 18 May to 8 August 2026, with a press night scheduled for 26 May.

Dark of the Moon Tickets