New Dawn Fades: A Play About Joy Division and Manchester

See Manchester's Musical History brought to life on stage

Electrifying, hilarious and deeply moving, New Dawn Fades tells the extraordinary story of the rise of Joy Division and the troubled life of their legendary frontman, Ian Curtis.

Set against the grim beauty of late ‘70s industrial Manchester, the play follows four young men as they create a sound that will change music forever. Packed with sharp Northern wit, brilliant music and moments of genuine hilarity, the excitement of their growing success unfolds alongside Ian's increasingly complex personal struggle, as friendship, ambition, relationships and the pressures of life in the band begin to collide.

For 2027, New Dawn Fades reunites the creative team behind last year's sell-out tour, led by producers Nigel Carr and Tony Davidson. Written by Brian Gorman, who also won acclaim for his portrayal of Factory Records boss Tony Wilson, the play brings the story of the band and their city vividly to life.

Wilson guides us through Manchester's turbulent past, encountering everyone from Roman general Julius Agricola and Dr John Dee to Friedrich Engels, Paul Morley and Buzzcocks' Pete Shelley along the way.