The Lives of Others opens at the Adelphi as Keira Knightley returns to the London stage

The Lives of Others has officially opened in the West End. Robert Icke's world premiere stage version of the Oscar winning film celebrated its official opening at the Adelphi Theatre on Thursday 29 October 2026, with Keira Knightley, Luke Thompson and Stephen Dillane in the leading roles. See dates and tickets for The Lives of Others at the Adelphi Theatre.

In this article: The Lives of Others, Keira Knightley, Luke Thompson, Stephen Dillane, Robert Icke, Adelphi Theatre, Sonia Friedman Productions, Max Richter, world premiere, West End.

Who leads the cast?

Keira Knightley plays the actor Christa-Maria Sieland. WhatsOnStage describes the role as "Marking her first return to the London stage in 15 years", and the Academy Award nominee is reunited here with producer Sonia Friedman.

Luke Thompson, the Olivier Award nominee known for Bridgerton, plays the writer Georg Dreyman. Emmy Award winner Stephen Dillane plays Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler, the Stasi officer who listens in on their lives.

What is the story?

The official synopsis sets the scene: "1984. East Germany. 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."

Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's 2006 German language film won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, as well as the BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language. Icke's adaptation, which he also directs, explores artistic censorship, state surveillance and the relationship between art and politics. The production's tagline is "Listening changes everything."

Who else joins them on stage?

The West End cast also includes Jamie Ankrah, Jake Benson, Matt Ray Brown, Lucy Doyle, Calum Finlay, Josh Gordon, Paul Higgins, Leda Hodgson, Nick Holder, Sibylla Meienberg, Irfan Shamji, Richard Sutton and Andrew Woodall. Our full cast announcement has more on the full line up.

Who is behind the production?

Sonia Friedman Productions presents the premiere and renews a long creative partnership with Icke. Set and costume design is by Hildegard Bechtler, with lighting by Jon Clark, sound by Giles Thomas, video by Tal Yarden and original music by Max Richter. Casting is by Julia Horan CDG.

When the production was announced, Friedman said: "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."

How long does it run?

The Lives of Others began previews on 14 October 2026 and plays a strictly limited season at the Adelphi Theatre until 9 January 2027. Evening performances are Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm, with selected matinees at 2.30pm. The venue notes that the production contains themes of an adult nature.

For the background to the casting, read our guide to the cast and dates at the Adelphi.

The run is strictly limited, so it pays to choose a date soon. See dates and tickets for The Lives of Others at the Adelphi Theatre.

Header image: courtesy of the production