Top team to bring hit TV drama to Milton Keynes stage

A major new dance work inspired by the award-winning Channel 4 series It’s a Sin will take to the stage in Milton Keynes next year.

Contemporary dance company Rambert will present the production, which sees original series creator Russell T Davies serving as executive producer, alongside legendary pop duo Pet Shop Boys.

Originally set in London between 1981 and 1991, the story follows a generation of young gay men and their friends as the HIV/Aids crisis unfolds around them. It is described as “a story of joy and innocence, of loss and injustice - and of resilience, activism and love in the face of unimaginable change”.

Promising to be “raw, euphoric and deeply moving,” It’s a Sin is billed as a “visceral theatrical experience - a reckoning and a celebration told through fearless movement,” in which “clubs pulse with possibility, friendships ignite, fear edges closer and lives are changed forever”.

Director Benoit Swan Pouffer said: “This is a story we feel compelled to tell right now, and collaborating with Russell - one of the most powerful storytellers of our time — is incredibly exciting. Together we’re exploring how dance and choreography can carry urgent, emotional narratives in a visceral way. I can’t wait to share this with audiences, and there is so much more still to come as the work evolves.”

Russell T Davies said: “Excitement is rising as this landmark production gets closer and closer. It’s such an honour for me to see It’s a Sin being brought to life by Benoit and the team with passion, joy and respect.”

Pet Shop Boys commented: “The original TV drama was a landmark series which compellingly presented the reality and tragedy of the Aids crisis to a mass audience. Our song It’s a Sin was contemporary with the crisis and we are proud to be involved as this poignant and important story is interpreted in a different medium.”

John McGrath, artistic director and chief executive of Factory International, which is helping produce the show, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Rambert on this thrilling new project. Russell T Davies is an icon, and the story he tells in It's a Sin has resonated with all ages.

"Rambert will no doubt re-tell the story with great vision and beauty.”

Expanding the world of the beloved television drama, which was first broadcast in 2021, the production brings together a creative team packed with talent. Shaping the musical landscape is composer and music supervisor Roman Gian Arthur, Grammy nominated multi-instrumentalist whose credits include Janelle Monáe’s Dirty Computer and The Age of Pleasure, who will be supported by Pet Shop Boys. Set and video design comes from Luke Halls Studio, whose credits include concerts from Adele, Pet Shop Boys, Dua Lipa and Take That.

Performances run at Milton Keynes Theatre from Tuesday May 25 to Saturday May 29, 2027. Visit atgtickets.com/MiltonKeynes to book or for more information about the show.