Chester’s celebrated Roman centurions are to appear on stage at the city’s Forum Studio Theatre in the acclaimed play New Dawn Fades about Joy Division and Manchester.

The centurions are actors from the Chester-based Roman Tours company, which specialises in living history, and they join the cast on stage for the scene in which Tony Wilson interviews the Roman General Julius Agricola, founder of Manchester (Mamucium), for Granada Reports.

New Dawn Fades chronicles the rise and fall of the influential post-punk band and the suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis and will be performed at the Forum on May 6.

New Dawn Fades co-producers Brian Gorman and Giles Bastow say: “We are thrilled to be collaborating with Roman Tours for the Chester performance of New Dawn Fades.

“The Roman presence in the north west is an important part of our history, and the play is not just the story of the band but also of a city founded by Agricola.

“The Romans shaped the history of Manchester, just as Joy Division did. And Chester, when known as Deva, was the most important Roman settlement in the region. When the centurions join our cast on stage that link between past and present will be cemented further.”

New Dawn Fades, which premiered at the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival in July 2013, stars Michael Whittaker as Ian Curtis, Natalie Perry as Debbie Curtis and Lee Joseph as Tony Wilson.

The play is written by Brian Gorman (creator of Everyman: The Story Of Patrick McGoohan – The Prisoner, co-writer of the 2013 stage version of Blade Runner, and writer/artist of the Joy Division graphic novel). The producers are Brian Gorman and Giles Bastow of All Roads Meet. The play is directed by Sarah Van Parys.

Tickets for the 8pm show are £15, concessions £12.50. Call 01244 341296 or visit www.tiptopproductions.co.uk .