Tony-Winning Play Stereophonic Heads to London as Fleetwood Mac Lawsuit Lingers

Broadway’s hottest new drama arrives at the Duke of York’s Theatre on 24 May, fresh from a record-breaking 13 Tony Award nominations and five wins. Yet Stereophonic lands in the West End under a cloud: the play’s striking similarities to Fleetwood Mac’s 1976 Rumours sessions prompted a plagiarism lawsuit that was quietly settled earlier this year.

From Recording Studio to Record Book

Written by David Adjmi with original songs by former Arcade Fire member Will Butler, Stereophonic tracks a five-piece Anglo-American rock band as creative turbulence, romantic break-ups and mountains of cocaine threaten to derail a career-defining album in 1976 California. Its haul at last year’s Tonys made it the most-nominated play in the award’s history, eclipsing the previous record held by Slave Play.

Echoes of a Classic Album

The fictional band’s line-up, relationship drama and West Coast studio setting mirror the real-life saga behind Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours. Even several on-stage songs evoke the unmistakable pulse of tracks like “The Chain” and “Dreams,” fuelling comparisons and headlines that dubbed the show “Fleetwood Mac for the stage.”

The Copyright Clash

Former Rumours producer Ken Caillat—co-author of the memoir Making Rumours—filed suit last October, alleging the play lifted key narrative beats, studio layout and dialogue from his book. He and co-writer Steven Stiefel pointed to shared anecdotes, mirrored character arcs and even niche studio jargon.

Quiet Settlement, Growing Demand

Court records confirm the dispute was resolved in January on undisclosed terms, sparing both sides an extended trial. By then, Stereophonic had already grossed more than $20 million on Broadway and fuelled talk of a film adaptation. Caillat and Stiefel say Hollywood interest in their own story is also accelerating.

Mac-Adjacent Projects on the Horizon

Fleetwood Mac’s remaining members have kept their distance from the stage production and are focusing on an authorised Apple TV+ documentary slated for 2026. Meanwhile, playwright Adjmi continues to explore silver-screen possibilities for Stereophonic, keeping the narrative’s evolution firmly in the spotlight.

West End Booking Details

Stereophonic begins previews on 24 May and is currently selling tickets through 20 September 2025. Running just over three hours and performed through a working studio console, the show promises the same raw intensity that electrified New York—plus the off-stage intrigue of its recent courtroom drama.

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