"A spellbinding and brilliant play about one of the greatest bands of all time ... I totally urge anyone left out there who believes in music to be so much more, to go and see it"
Set in 1970's Manchester, New Dawn Fades is a stunning drama - with music - about Joy Division and Manchester.
In 1976, four young men are inspired by the incendiary Sex Pistols gig, at the Manchester Lesser Free Trade Hall, and go on to form a new post-punk band that would eventually morph into the iconic Joy Division, with lead singer Ian Curtis stunning audiences with his visionary lyrics and mesmerising stage performances. Signing for Manchester's ground-breaking Factory Records, under the leadership of legendary impresario Tony Wilson, the band would produce two all-time classic albums, before tragedy struck.
This is a thrilling, rollercoaster ride through the turbulent and hugely creative post-punk era, with a sparkling array of colourful and memorable characters. Tony Wilson narrates, and takes the audience on a breath-taking, whistle stop tour of 2000 years of Mancunian history, and uncovering the often-surprising influences on Joy Division's music. From Roman General Julius Agricola, through Frederich Engels, Dr John Dee, and many more.
The show includes live music which has had previous audiences standing and cheering at the recreation of the sight and sound of Joy Division. It is ten years since the graphic novel that inspired the stage show was created, and New Dawn Fades has gone from strength to strength. Before the enforced break, due to the pandemic, the production had been invited to Berlin, with offers also coming in from as far afield as New York and Hong Kong. Plans are afoot to take the show to international audiences in 2023.
Dates
Wed 7 September 2022
Space
Main House
Duration
105 minutes
Intermission Duration
20 minutes
Age guidance
16+
Content warning
Self harm and suicide