It’s A Sin is returning in new form as Russell T. Davies teams with the Pet Shop Boys for a contemporary dance adaptation of the acclaimed Channel 4 and HBO drama. According to Deadline, the project is being developed with Rambert, the U.K. dance company behind several large‑scale theatrical works, alongside festival producer Glyn Fussell. The production is set to premiere at Aviva Studios in Manchester, marking a significant expansion of the story’s legacy.
Davies, who created the original series and is also known for Queer As Folk (Cucumber, A Very English Scandal), will serve as an executive producer on the stage adaptation. In a statement, he said, “It’s A Sin was such a special show for me, and it’s one of the greatest honours of my life to have the show transformed by Rambert into something new and exciting.” The new production aims to reinterpret the emotional core of the series through movement, visual design, and immersive staging.
The original drama followed a group of young gay men and their friends during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis in the U.K., with standout performances from Olly Alexander (Funny Boy, The Idol) and Callum Scott Howells (Cabaret, The Way). The series became a breakout hit for both Channel 4 and HBO, praised for its emotional depth and cultural impact.
Pet Shop Boys members Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, whose song “It’s a Sin” inspired the show’s title, are also executive producers. “The original TV drama was a landmark series which compellingly presented the reality and tragedy of the Aids crisis to a mass audience…” they said, noting their pride in helping reinterpret the story for a new medium.
Rambert’s artistic director Benoit Swan Pouffer will choreograph and direct the production, reuniting with dramaturg Kaite O’Reilly to develop the script. The team describes the adaptation as a “visceral theatrical experience,” blending contemporary dance with archival elements and cinematic visuals to explore the story’s emotional urgency.
With its creative team and cultural resonance, the It’s A Sin dance adaptation is positioned to bring the series’ themes to audiences in a bold, immersive format.