ONE of the great novels of the 20th century, A Passage To India will be brought to life on stage by award-winning ensemble simple8 at Salisbury Playhouse from January 22-27 as part of a UK tour.

How can we love each other in a world divided by race, power and religion?

This question at the heart of A Passage to India challenges us today just as it did 100 years ago.

With their fresh, new adaptation of EM Forster’s masterpiece, simple8 finds in the past a mirror for our own divided times.

Multi award-winning simple8 takes a new approach to Forster’s masterpiece that transports audiences to British India and conjures up its elephants and caves, courthouses and temples with the simplest and boldest of means. The group’s new adaptation vividly and carefully imagines this great novel for contemporary Britain.

A Passage to India is adapted and co-directed by Simon Dormandy, whose recent work includes co-directing his own adaptation of the Coen Brothers film The Hudsucker Proxy (Nuffield, Southampton and Liverpool Playhouse), and directing Julius Caesar (Bristol Old Vic), Luce (Southwark Playhouse) and Waiting for Godot (Arcola Theatre).

Original music is composed and performed live by Kuljit Bhamra, one of the most prolific musicians, composers and producers on the British Asian music scene.

A Passage to India runs in the Main House from January 22 to 27.

Tickets from 01722 320333.