Stereophonic review – 70s band saga is an extraordinary, electrifying odyssey

Duke of York’s theatre, London
This stunningly rendered tale of a band on the brink of creative genius or total meltdown is a triumph, with a standout cast and score

If you’ve ever wanted to step into a 1970s recording studio, get to the Duke of York’s pronto. Stereophonic’s set designer David Zinn has rendered one meticulously, from the complex console and shabby furnishings of the mixing suite to the fully functioning recording booth it gazes upstage into. As the play’s fictional band gathers behind the glass, the dramatic possibilities of their pressurised containment are immediate.

David Adjmi’s music-infused drama – songs by Will Butler of Arcade Fire – arrives from Broadway trailing a record number of Tony nominations for a play, and a now-settled lawsuit. Fleetwood Mac’s erstwhile engineer felt the story too closely resembled the making of their best-known album. Rumours? Echoes, certainly. If you know the names Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, chances are you’re going to read them in Peter, the band’s controlling genius, and Diana, whose need for independence grows with her rising star.