Keira Knightley is poised to helm a new West End adaptation of Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's Oscar-winning film, "The Lives of Others." Directed and adapted by Robert Icke at London's Adelphi Theatre, the actress, known for her roles in "Pride and Prejudice" and "Pirates of the Caribbean," will be joined by "Game of Thrones" star Stephen Dillane and "Bridgerton's" Luke Thompson.
Produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, the stage show, which boasts an original score by "Hamnet" composer Max Richter, will premiere on Oct. 29 this year and run until Jan. 9, 2027.
"1984. East Germany," the plot synopsis begins. "A writer and an actor are placed under state surveillance. From the attic above their apartment, their Stasi man listens for evidence of subversion. But to observe a life is to risk changing your own."
This production marks Icke and Friedman's creative re-team after their work on plays such as "Oedipus," "Manhunt," "Hamlet," "The Doctor," "Oresteia," and "1984." Knightley and Friedman re-team after working on 2011's "The Children's Hour."
Henckel von Donnersmarck's 2006 German-language film swept the subsequent awards season, including Oscars, BAFTAs, Caesars, and Independent Spirit Awards. It starred Ulrich Mühe, Martina Gedeck, Sebastian Koch, and Ulrich Tukur.
"I've been obsessed with 'The Lives of Others' ever since I first saw it," said Friedman. "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 realize it that feels both unexpected and completely thrilling."
"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," she added.
