Ian McEwan’s acclaimed novel Atonement is being adapted for the stage by Christopher Hampton and will receive its world premiere at Chichester Festival Theatre this May. The production, directed by Adam Penford, explores the far-reaching consequences of a young girl’s accusation set against a prewar English country estate.

Atonement will run at Chichester Festival Theatre from 29 May to 20 June, with a press night on 5 June. Christopher Hampton, known for works such as The Philanthropist and Les Liaisons Dangereuses, has adapted the well-known novel for the stage. The story follows 13-year-old Briony Tallis as her mistaken accusation following an encounter between her sister Cecilia and Robbie, the housekeeper’s son, sets off devastating repercussions.

Set during the summer of 1935 and spanning through the Second World War into later decades, the narrative unpacks themes of guilt, memory, and redemption. McEwan’s novel was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and has appeared on lists of the 100 greatest novels of the past century, including those by The Guardian and Time Magazine.

The novel was previously adapted into a highly praised film starring Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, and James McAvoy. This new stage production will be directed by Adam Penford, artistic director of Nottingham Playhouse, who recently directed James Graham’s Punch, which has played in the West End and on Broadway.

Penford also directed Chichester’s 2023 production of The Sound of Music. The creative team for Atonement includes designer Anthony Ward, composer and sound designer Alexandra Faye Braithwaite, movement and intimacy director Ben Wright, and casting director Helena Palmer. The cast is yet to be announced.

Chichester Festival Theatre has incorporated this premiere into its upcoming season, adding a literary classic to its roster. The production brings together esteemed collaborators to translate McEwan’s novel into a theatrical form, reflecting the continued interest in adapting major literary works for the stage.