To celebrate the opening of DEATH NOTE: THE MUSICAL’s brand-new London production at the Barbican Theatre, we sat down with Telly Leung.
Before he takes to the stage as Ryuk for this strictly limited six-week season, we asked him 18 quickfire questions about the show, his career, and... fried chicken!
Hi Telly.
Describe yourself in three words.
"Empathetic, Capricorn, playmate."
What can audiences expect from Death Note The Musical?
"I think for people coming to it with that sort of fandom and love for the source material, they're going to see and experience all the characters they know and love, but they're going to experience our 2026 interpretation of what it is. Taking something that was on panels of a comic book—of a manga—and putting it on a big Barbican stage is going to require some re-envisioning. So I think people can expect what they know and love about the story and these characters, but they're going to experience it in a whole new way: music, singing, dancing, choreography, stage pictures... live"
What is your comfort food?
"Fried chicken! Always fried chicken. I have a theory that if everybody from every country brought their version of fried chicken to the United Nations, we would have world peace."
Is there a dream role you haven't touched yet?
"I got to do a dream role recently—I was just in The Phantom of the Opera in Masquerade, and that was a big dream of mine ever since I was a little kid. I've started doing more directing, actually. So my dream now would be to be able to direct something, either on a Broadway stage or a West End stage."
Your favourite holiday destination?
"Fire Island. It's a gay beach destination about two hours outside of New York City, and there's incredible history there for the gay community. Fire Island was the first place where I felt like I had zero reservations about holding my boyfriend's hand."
Something you really like about London?
"A meal deal from Tesco or Sainsbury's! We don't have that in the United States. For £3.85 you can get lunch—that's amazing. I love that it's so available, yummy, and inexpensive."
Something you don't quite get about British culture?
"The social membership houses—like Soho House, The Ivy Club, or The Groucho. In New York City, I'll just meet you at a bar! But here in London, theatre friends are like, 'Come meet me at Soho House or Groucho.' Having to be a member to go in is very strange to me sometimes, but it's also very fun!"
Have you ever received an unusual gift from a fan?
"There's a wonderful culture of gift-giving in Japan. I had one fan ask me my shirt size, and the next time they saw the show, I had a very expensive shirt from Diesel as a gift. In Japanese culture, they told me, 'No, no, this is part of the culture—just receive the gift graciously, don't think about the cost, it's about the act of giving.' It was a good cultural lesson for me."
Who is your favourite singer?
"Whitney Houston. Not even a pause—that's my favourite singer of all time."
Do you arrive at the airport 3 hours early or run to the gate at the last minute?
"I always arrive early!"
How many languages do you speak?
"I speak English, Cantonese Chinese, and I studied in Spain for a little while, so I have a little bit of Spanish too—say two and a half!"
New York or London: If you had to pick one city to live in forever?
"I love London, but New York will always be home—I'm a born and raised New Yorker. But I love living in London."
Favourite TV show of all time?
"The West Wing by Aaron Sorkin. Brilliant television, smart writing, great acting."
How much time do you spend on social media every day?
"Too much!"
Do you have a strict pre-show ritual?
"I have to warm up—I can't do a show cold. I need to do a good vocal warm-up. And I think I actually need to be a little sweaty when I start a show; my body needs to be warm enough to actually break a little bit of a sweat even before the show starts."
Describe Death Note The Musical in three words.
"Spectacle, epic, profound."
How is rehearsal going with the company?
"I am incredibly proud to be a part of this all-Asian cast, which doesn't happen very often on Broadway or in London. To be together in our community and showcase the talent in our community all together—I think it means a lot for this incredible showcase of multi-generational Asian talent to be on that Barbican stage."
Do you still get butterflies before going on stage?
"I very much still get nervous and insecure. Someone once said, 'You should quit when you stop being nervous.' It's a good sign that you should stop if you walk on stage and you're not even a little bit nervous. The older I get, I get better at dealing with it, but it never goes away."
The musical runs 30 July - 12 September 2026. Tickets: here.