Set in East Berlin in 1984, The Lives of Others follows Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler as he is assigned to monitor playwright Georg Dreyman and actor Christa-Maria Sieland. From a surveillance post hidden above their apartment, Wiesler listens to their private conversations and documents their movements for the state. As political pressure and personal compromise close in around the couple, Wiesler’s role as observer becomes increasingly complicated.

The stage adaptation is written and directed by Robert Icke, whose theatre credits include Oedipus, Player Kings, and 1984. The production stars Keira Knightley, Luke Thompson, and Stephen Dillane. The original film was written and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck and won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Music for the stage production is by Max Richter.

The production features set and costume design by Hildegard Bechtler, lighting design by Jon Clark, and sound design by Giles Thomas. It marks the first stage adaptation of the 2006 film and runs for a limited engagement at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End.