West End Stereophonic Play Depicts 70s Fleetwood Mac Studio Drama

Stereophonic, a multi-award-winning play by David Adjmi, is a fictionalized yet strikingly Fleetwood Mac-inspired portrayal of a 1970s Anglo-American rock band recording their second album amid personal and creative turmoil. Set in a claustrophobic California recording studio, the drama explores fractured relationships, substance abuse, and artistic struggles through overlapping dialogue, intense emotional flashpoints, and live performances of original songs by Will Butler that evoke the era's pop-rock sound. The narrative centers on two couples and their fraught dynamics, notably highlighting the female characters' challenges, with a feminist undercurrent addressing control and creative suppression within the band. While praised for its ambitious, authentic recreation of the recording process and compelling performances, critics note the play's lengthy runtime and moments of meandering pacing test audience patience. The production has generated legal controversy due to its close parallels to Fleetwood Mac’s album Rumours, including an out-of-court settlement with the album's producer, underscoring its thin veil of fiction over real events. Overall, Stereophonic offers a potent, if occasionally overlong, meditation on creativity, collaboration, and personal conflict in a legendary musical moment.