Walsall Arena

Electrifying, hilarious and deeply moving, New Dawn Fades tells the extraordinary story of the rise of Joy Division and the troubled life of their legendary frontman, Ian Curtis.

Set against the grim beauty of late ’70s industrial Manchester, the play follows four young men as they create a sound that will change music forever. Packed with sharp Northern wit, brilliant music and moments of genuine hilarity, the excitement of their growing success unfolds alongside Ian's increasingly complex personal struggle, as friendship, ambition, relationships and the pressures of life in the band begin to collide.

For 2027, New Dawn Fades reunites the creative team behind its hugely successful 2026 UK tour, led by producers Nigel Carr and Tony Davidson. Written by Brian Gorman, who also won acclaim for his portrayal of Factory Records boss Tony Wilson, the play brings the story of the band and their city vividly to life.

With Wilson as our guide, the story reaches back through Manchester's turbulent past, encountering everyone from Roman general Julius Agricola and Dr John Dee to Friedrich Engels, Paul Morley and Buzzcocks' Pete Shelley, tracing the people, ideas and upheavals that helped shape the city from which Joy Division emerged.

Funny, passionate, poignant and ultimately unforgettable, New Dawn Fades is an emotional rollercoaster through the remarkable story of a band whose influence would reach far beyond Manchester.

Reviews:

“It’s certainly the closest I’ll ever get to seeing Joy Division… I could not recommend this musical play more highly.” – The Punk Site

“Highly entertaining, poignant, and often very funny. Brian Gorman played an uncanny version of the late great Tony Wilson”

– Will Sergeant (Echo & The Bunnymen)

“New Dawn Fades is a spellbinding and brilliant play about one of the greatest bands of all time. I totally urge anyone left out there who believes in music to go and see it” - John Robb

“High risk, high reward… a bold piece of theatre that captures the atmosphere of late-70s Manchester and the creative spark that surrounded Joy Division.” - Manchester Evening News