Rambert brings It’s a Sin to the stage: a visceral new dance adaptation heading to Cardiff
Tickets are now on sale for one of 2027’s most anticipated cultural events: Rambert’s live stage adaptation of It’s a Sin, the BAFTA‑nominated Channel 4 drama created by Russell T Davies. Announced under strict embargo, the production will tour the UK from February 2027 and arrive at Wales Millennium Centre from 6–10 July 2027, with both matinee and evening performances on the final day.
A landmark collaboration
This major new dance work is presented by Rambert and Factory International, with co‑producers across the UK and Europe including Wales Millennium Centre, Sadler’s Wells, Capital Theatres Edinburgh and Les Théâtres de la Ville Luxembourg.
The creative team is a powerhouse of queer cultural influence and contemporary performance:
Russell T Davies – Executive Producer, expanding his era‑defining TV drama into a new medium
Pet Shop Boys – Executive Producers, supporting the musical landscape and revisiting their iconic hit It’s a sin
Glyn Fussell – Executive Producer, bringing his club‑culture pedigree (Sink the Pink, Mighty Hoopla)
Benoit Swan Pouffer – Rambert’s Artistic Director, choreographer and director
Kaite O’Reilly – Dramaturg, developing a new script
Roman GianArthur – Composer and Music Supervisor, shaping a sound world of glamour, defiance and 1980s queer intensity
Luke Halls Studio – Set and video design, known for work with Adele, Dua Lipa and West Side Story
What to expect
The production promises to be raw, euphoric and deeply moving, transforming Davies’ story of friendship, joy, activism and loss during the HIV/AIDS crisis into a visceral theatrical experience.
“Clubs pulse with possibility. Friendships ignite. Fear edges closer. Lives are changed forever.” (from the press release)
Rambert blends contemporary dance, archive material and cinematic visuals, allowing past and present to unfold side by side. The work asks urgent questions about memory, community and how we choose to live.
Why It’s a Sin matters
Originally set in London between 1981 and 1991, the TV series followed a group of young gay men and their friends as the AIDS crisis reshaped their lives. It became a cultural touchstone, praised for its emotional honesty, political urgency and celebration of queer joy.
Davies said:
“It’s such an honour for me to see It’s a Sin being brought to life by Benoit and the team with passion, joy and respect.”
Pet Shop Boys added:
“We are proud to be involved as this poignant and important story is interpreted in a different medium.”
Touring schedule
The production premieres at Aviva Studios, Manchester on 16 February 2027 before touring to:
Luxembourg • Liverpool • Birmingham • Plymouth • Southampton • Edinburgh • Norwich • Newcastle • Cardiff • Truro • London • Glasgow • Sheffield
Runtime: 110 minutes including interval Age guidance: 15+ Content warnings: strong language, sexual references, partial nudity, themes of illness, grief, HIV/AIDS, homophobia, and archive footage containing outdated attitudes.
A milestone for Rambert
The announcement lands during Rambert’s centenary year, marked by its FUTURE100 campaign supporting the next century of bold dance and participation. Alongside It’s a Sin, Rambert continues touring This is Rambert, a triple bill showcasing distinctive choreographic voices.
About the partners
Rambert – one of the world’s most diverse and innovative dance companies
Factory International – creators of Manchester International Festival and operators of Aviva Studios
Wales Millennium Centre – Wales’ national home for the performing arts, committed to nurturing creativity and telling powerful Welsh stories
Colwinston Charitable Trust – major supporters of high‑quality arts projects across the UK, particularly in Wales
Final word
This adaptation is shaping up to be one of the most significant cultural events of 2027: a fusion of dance, queer history, pop culture and political storytelling, delivered by some of the most exciting creative voices working today.
