New Dawn Fades: A Play About Joy Division and Manchester is celebrating 11 great years with a re-energised and vibrant new production touring the UK this October, including the iconic City Varieties Music Hall in Leeds.

It’s the story of four ordinary lads who, inspired by the punk revolution of 70s Manchester, came together to form one of the most influential bands of all time: Joy Division. Following the untimely death of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band went on to huge worldwide success as New Order.

The show, produced by Tin Orb Ltd.’s Nigel Carr and Tony Davidson, is written & directed by the award-winning Brian Gorman, who reprises his role as the legendary Factory Records’ boss Tony Wilson. He guides the audience through the heart and soul of both the band and the city, introducing an array of historical figures, including Roman General Julius Agricola, Dr John Dee, Frederich Engels, Paul Morley, and Pete Shelley of Buzzcocks! The result is a spellbinding journey of love, passion, grief, and of course, music, drawing inspiration from the enigmatic lyrics of Ian Curtis, with a soundtrack featuring iconic hits of the late 70s UK music scene including of course Joy Division.

A smash hit when it debuted at the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival in July 2013, New Dawn Fades has toured regularly across the country, playing to capacity audiences and standing ovations.

“New Dawn Fades is a spellbinding and brilliant play about one of the greatest bands of all time. I urge anyone left out there who believes in music to go and see it”
John Robb

“I was crying. It was very emotional. It captured everything perfectly. I loved it! It had everything – the music and the emotion”
Rowetta (Happy Mondays)

“An evocative piece that beautifully captures the heart and soul of Manchester in the 1970s. This is the way, step inside…”
Kevin Cummins