The Lives of Others

The Lives of Others description

It's 1984. The place is East Germany, separated from West Germany by the brutal Berlin Wall. A writer and an actor are going about their business, not realising they're under state surveillance. There's a Stasi spy covertly listening in to every word they say from the attic above their apartment, but the longer he listens for signs of rebellion and subversion, the more his own life begins to change. Will his moral code be changed by his experiences? This powerful piece of drama, inspired by real life, stars the Academy Award nominee Keira Knightley, who gave us Black Doves, Atonement, and The Misanthrope, along with Emmy-winning Stephen Dillane (Game of Thrones, The Tunnel, Vigil) and Olivier nominee Luke Thompson (Bridgerton, Dunkirk, Oresteia).

This production marks the first time Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's super-tense The Lives of Others has been produced for the stage, adapted by West End legend and Olivier winner Robert Icke who also directs. Based on the Oscar-winning 2006 film, this electrifying play explores artistic censorship, state surveillance and the uneasy relationship between art and politics. A modern classic that'll make you think then think twice, it's an unusually powerful piece of storytelling. 

Playing at Adelphi Theatre (venue info)