One Day: The Musical Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh 11th March 2026 Review
One Day: The Musical is at the Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh from 27 February – Sun 19 April, but tonight, 11th March, was the press night for the show.
This production is adapted from the 2009 novel One Day by David Nichols which tracks the lives of one couple, Emma and Dexter, who spend one night together before fate takes them in very different directions. They both know where they are for one moment in time, for one day. Where will they be on that one day next year, in ten years, in twenty years though? The novel visits their lives on that one day for the next 20 years, and condensing this time frame into the time available for a stage production was obviously going to present huge challenges for this production from the outset, but overall it all works well here.
Since the publication of the original book, "One Day" has also been adapted for a feature film in 2011 and a Netflix series in 2024, and if the audience response tonight to "One Day The Musical" is anything to go by, then this production is also going to be a big success, which is just as well, as this is probably one of the most anticipated shows at the Lyceum Theatre for many years.
This production by The Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and Melting Pot is clearly working on a large production budget and that is very obvious from the moment that you stepped into the theatre tonight. Instead of the normal stage/seating arrangement for any show at this theatre, the decision has been made to present One Day the Musical "in the round" and provide audiences with an immersive experience, blurring completely the space between performers and audience.
The usual stage area has been opened up to use the often deceptive depth of the Lyceum, and ground floor seating is now extended behind and to the sides of the usual stage space with some seating in front too. Raised and circular stages and innovative use of set design also allow some audience members to be seated at their bar table next to the performers. Set and costume designer Rae Smith has, along with the technical team at the Lyceum Theatre, obviously faced more than a few challenges to not only create this set/performance space, but to make it work, to flow with the story, and they have achieved their vision and goals here. Lighting designer Bruno Poet and sound designer Simon Baker, along with choreographer Carrie-Anne Ingrouille have also made their own distinctive contributions to this production
No amount of technical magic is of course going to save any show if the basic elements are not there, in this case words, music and performances. Here though David Grieg has written a show book that highlights the major turning points in the lives of Emma, Dexter and their close University friends over that 20 year period and the use of some clever stage production and settings allows this narrative to flow smoothly. The often subtle changes in the main characters of this story are also well handled here.
One Day is a musical production and the music/songs have to not only often provide much of the narrative here, but also change as the characters change over the years, and here Abner & Amanda Ramirez (AKA JOHNNYSWIM) with additional lyrics by Jeremy Sams, have given this show a fine soundtrack. Listen a little bit closer though to this as these lyrics have so many layers to them. A live band, discreetly hidden from view, also adds that extra touch to everything
With songs/lyrics this strong, One Day is a huge showcase for the talents of the two central people in this story, Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley and on stage Jamie Muscato and Sharon Rose give strong performances that do justice to the songs, but also both have the dramatic abilities required to give depth to the music and, when required, story itself. Just as important as this, Jamie Muscato and Sharon Rose are a believable couple here. The show also allows for some spotlight moments for the rest of this cast too who all help to fill out the world around Emma and Dexter over these 20 years.
You do not need to know the book (I have never read it), or any of the other productions adapted from it to enjoy this show; it is strong enough to stand on its own merits. If you are already a fan of Emma and Dexter, then you will probably find many more layers to explore in this show too.
Review by Tom King (c) 2026
www.artsreviewsedinbrgh.com
This production is adapted from the 2009 novel One Day by David Nichols which tracks the lives of one couple, Emma and Dexter, who spend one night together before fate takes them in very different directions. They both know where they are for one moment in time, for one day. Where will they be on that one day next year, in ten years, in twenty years though? The novel visits their lives on that one day for the next 20 years, and condensing this time frame into the time available for a stage production was obviously going to present huge challenges for this production from the outset, but overall it all works well here.
Since the publication of the original book, "One Day" has also been adapted for a feature film in 2011 and a Netflix series in 2024, and if the audience response tonight to "One Day The Musical" is anything to go by, then this production is also going to be a big success, which is just as well, as this is probably one of the most anticipated shows at the Lyceum Theatre for many years.
This production by The Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and Melting Pot is clearly working on a large production budget and that is very obvious from the moment that you stepped into the theatre tonight. Instead of the normal stage/seating arrangement for any show at this theatre, the decision has been made to present One Day the Musical "in the round" and provide audiences with an immersive experience, blurring completely the space between performers and audience.
The usual stage area has been opened up to use the often deceptive depth of the Lyceum, and ground floor seating is now extended behind and to the sides of the usual stage space with some seating in front too. Raised and circular stages and innovative use of set design also allow some audience members to be seated at their bar table next to the performers. Set and costume designer Rae Smith has, along with the technical team at the Lyceum Theatre, obviously faced more than a few challenges to not only create this set/performance space, but to make it work, to flow with the story, and they have achieved their vision and goals here. Lighting designer Bruno Poet and sound designer Simon Baker, along with choreographer Carrie-Anne Ingrouille have also made their own distinctive contributions to this production
No amount of technical magic is of course going to save any show if the basic elements are not there, in this case words, music and performances. Here though David Grieg has written a show book that highlights the major turning points in the lives of Emma, Dexter and their close University friends over that 20 year period and the use of some clever stage production and settings allows this narrative to flow smoothly. The often subtle changes in the main characters of this story are also well handled here.
One Day is a musical production and the music/songs have to not only often provide much of the narrative here, but also change as the characters change over the years, and here Abner & Amanda Ramirez (AKA JOHNNYSWIM) with additional lyrics by Jeremy Sams, have given this show a fine soundtrack. Listen a little bit closer though to this as these lyrics have so many layers to them. A live band, discreetly hidden from view, also adds that extra touch to everything
With songs/lyrics this strong, One Day is a huge showcase for the talents of the two central people in this story, Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley and on stage Jamie Muscato and Sharon Rose give strong performances that do justice to the songs, but also both have the dramatic abilities required to give depth to the music and, when required, story itself. Just as important as this, Jamie Muscato and Sharon Rose are a believable couple here. The show also allows for some spotlight moments for the rest of this cast too who all help to fill out the world around Emma and Dexter over these 20 years.
You do not need to know the book (I have never read it), or any of the other productions adapted from it to enjoy this show; it is strong enough to stand on its own merits. If you are already a fan of Emma and Dexter, then you will probably find many more layers to explore in this show too.
Review by Tom King (c) 2026
www.artsreviewsedinbrgh.com