New Dawn Fades: A poignant story of Joy Division and Manchester at RNCM

Having enjoyed ten glittering years touring the country after debuting to rave reviews at the 2013 Greater Manchester Fringe Festival, New Dawn Fades returns to the city on its anniversary run.

Arriving with a brand new production, Brian Gorman’s play faithfully and expansively captures the breakneck ascension of Joy Division against the backdrop of Manchester’s rumbling post-industrial cultural boom.

Hitting the RNCM Theatre stage for a limited two-night run—Thu 29 Sep and Fri 30 Sep—New Dawn Fades follows the four local lads who became one of the most influential bands in history, while Ian Curtis’ affecting lyrics provide the soundtrack to a history of Manchester as told by its greatest figures.

The show inevitably features Tony Wilson as the audience’s local guide, shepherding viewers through the spiritual core of both the band and the city, consulting with other Mancunian icons along the journey, from Friedrich Engels to Pete Shelley and Roman general Julius Agricola to the Buzzcocks. Their stories weave a new and enchanting tapestry, uniquely depicting the twin engines of passion and grief which powered Joy Division’s musical brilliance, as well as the determination born of hardship at the centre of Mancunian identity.

Unrivalled in its scope and stirring in its performances, New Dawn Fades is a poignant account of Manchester’s most beloved native sons.