Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck’s The Lives Of Others

About Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s The Lives of Others

Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s The Lives of Others plays at the Adelphi Theatre in London. This stage adaptation of the Oscar-winning 2007 film is set in 1984 East Germany, where a writer and an actor are placed under state surveillance and a Stasi officer listens from the attic above their apartment.

The production follows the consequences of watching a life too closely, with the story built around artistic censorship, state surveillance and the relationship between art and politics. It focuses on how observation can change both the person being watched and the person doing the watching.

Written and directed by Olivier Award-winner Robert Icke, the production is based on the Oscar-winning 2007 film and is playing for a strictly limited run.

Key facts: From 14 October 2026. Suitable for ages 14 and over. Contains themes of an adult nature. Accessible performances listed are Audio Described on Saturday 5 December 2026 at 2:30pm, Captioned on Saturday 7 November 2026 at 2:30pm and BSL Signed on Saturday 14 November 2026 at 2:30pm.

Before you book

Suitable for ages 14 and over. The production contains themes of an adult nature. No exchanges or refunds are offered after purchase.

Venue

Adelphi Theatre
409-412 Strand, London, United Kingdom

For access information, contact the box office.

Current cast

Keira Knightley, Luke Thompson and Stephen Dillane star in the production. Knightley is an Academy Award nominee, Thompson is an Olivier Award nominee and Dillane is an Emmy Award winner.