A Swedish musical, “Kärleken kommer att skilja oss åt” (Love Will Tear Us Apart), has been made from Joy Division’s songs – and some fans are upset, but they’re still flocking to see the performance.
Author Sara Stridsberg translated seven Joy Division songs into Swedish and they have been adapted to the stage by director Sally Palmquist Procopé.
The musical play premiered last Monday night at the Royal Dramatic Theater.
Every performance is already sold out, through the end of its run on June seventh.
Palmquist Procopé says that initially she was very skeptical and thought hearing Joy Division in Swedish would be lame. But when she heard it was Stridberg who would do the translation, she was excited because she says Stridberg’s language and her imagery fits Joy Division.
Musical arranger Stefan Johansson says fans of Joy Division have also been skeptical, and many have written on Twitter that this is an idiotic idea. But, he says, they’re still going to go see it.
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