Russell T Davies’s groundbreaking It’s a Sin to be revisited in a “visceral” new format

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Acclaimed Channel 4 drama It’s a Sin is being reinterpreted for a bold new format.

As a critic, I’m really excited about this one. Rambert, one of the UK’s leading dance companies, is partnering with Factory International to bring a powerfully moving story to the stage. It’s a piece that dives deep into the impact of the AIDS crisis on a group of friends and the broader LGBTQ+ community during the devastating 1980s. It promises to be a truly unforgettable experience.

The show featured Olly Alexander of Years & Years as Ritchie Tozer, a character who transforms from a reserved resident of a small town to a confident member of London’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community, allowing him to live authentically for the first time.

It started out feeling like a dream come true, a really magical time in his life. But things quickly turned into a nightmare as the AIDS crisis started to become real, and sadly, it began to affect people I knew personally. It was a devastating time.

The five-part drama also featured Omari Douglas, Callum Scott Howells, David Carlyle, Nathaniel Curtis, and Lydia West. While the show’s cast is known, details about who will star in the upcoming stage adaptation are still being developed.

Rambert describes its new production, It’s a Sin, as a powerful and emotional theatrical experience. The show will use dynamic dance to explore themes of both joy and hardship, portraying the energy of nightlife, the strength of friendship, and the looming presence of fear, ultimately showing how lives can be transformed.

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Russell T Davies, the writer behind “It’s a Sin,” will be an executive producer on this project. He’ll be joined by the iconic pop group The Pet Shop Boys and Glyn Fussell from Sink the Pink.

Rambert’s Benoit Swan Pouffer will direct and create the choreography for the show, and Kaite O’Reilly is writing the script.

Pouffer explained that they felt it was important to share this story now, and they’re thrilled to be working with Russell, a highly talented and impactful storyteller, to do so.

We’re investigating how dance can powerfully tell important and moving stories. I’m excited to share what we’ve created with everyone.

Davies said he was incredibly proud that Rambert had reimagined ‘It’s a Sin’ into a fresh and captivating dance performance, calling the original show a particularly meaningful project for him and this collaboration a highlight of his career.

The Pet Shop Boys explained that the original TV drama was a groundbreaking show which powerfully showed the reality and sadness of the AIDS crisis to a wide audience.

Our song, ‘It’s a Sin,’ came out around the same time as the events it depicts, and we’re happy to see the story told in a new way through this series.

The stage adaptation of “It’s a Sin” doesn’t have a confirmed opening date yet, but it will premiere at Aviva Studios in Manchester. Plans are in place to bring the production to other cities in the UK and Europe, and you can sign up for updates on the Rambert website.

It’s a Sin is available to stream on Channel 4 online and Disney+.

Don’t miss It’s a Sin! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app now for daily TV recommendations and exclusive content.

Authors

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig writes about TV and streaming dramas and comedies for TopMob. Before that, he worked at Starburst Magazine and hosted The Winter King Podcast on ITVX. He’s a journalism graduate from the University of Sheffield.

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2026-03-19 12:34