Keira Knightley, Stephen Dillane and Luke Thompson set for ‘The Lives of Others’ Stage Premiere
Published on 29 April 2026
Summary
- World premiere stage adaptation of The Lives of Others, directed by Robert Icke, opening at the Adelphi Theatre on 14 October 2026.
- Star cast led by Keira Knightley, Stephen Dillane and Luke Thompson in a story of surveillance and moral conflict in East Berlin.
- Produced by Sonia Friedman with original music by Max Richter
Robert Icke is set to write and direct a new stage adaptation of Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s Oscar-winning film The Lives of Others. The production explores a writer and an actor living under close state surveillance, as the officer assigned to monitor them begins to question his own loyalties after becoming increasingly affected by what he observes, forcing him into a series of moral dilemmas.
Keira Knightley, Stephen Dillane and Luke Thompson will headline the world premiere of the adaptation, which comes to the Adelphi Theatre on 14 October and runs until 9 January 2027.
The piece marks another collaboration between Icke and producer Sonia Friedman, following their work together on titles such as Oedipus, Manhunt, Hamlet, The Doctor, Oresteia and 1984.
The creative team features set and costume design by Hildegard Bechtler, lighting by Jon Clark, sound by Giles Thomas, and an original score from acclaimed composer Max Richter.
Friedman said, “I’ve been obsessed with The Lives of Others ever since I first saw it - Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s exquisite, haunting, and completely masterful film, and there is no one better than Robert Icke to bring this to life onstage. He has this rare ability to combine huge ideas with real emotional truth, and I know he and the company will find a way to realise it that feels both unexpected and completely thrilling.
“Set in East Berlin in 1984 - a world where nothing is private, every word carries consequence, and the state holds power not just over lives, but over thought, speech and imagination itself, this world premiere is a reminder of how fragile those freedoms are, and of the cost and courage required to hold on to them.
“What I love most about it is that it’s both epic and intimate - incredibly beautiful, sad, and deeply moving - and at its heart, it’s an unlikely story about kindness. A story about connection and compassion in the most unexpected places.
“To have a company led by Keira Knightley, Stephen Dillane and Luke Thompson at the Adelphi Theatre this autumn makes it all the more special. And in an extraordinary coup, we’re incredibly excited that Max Richter will be composing new music for the production. Max is one of the great composers of our time, and his work has a depth and emotional truth that has the potential to break our hearts.
“I really can’t wait to share it with audiences.”
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By Hay Brunsdon
I've over 15 years of writing and editorial experience, and starting working in the West End theatre industry in 2012. When not watching or writing about theatre I'm usually swimming, hiking, running, or training for triathlons in the Stroud valleys.