The 39 Steps

The Thirty-nine Steps is widely regarded as one of the novels that helped define the modern spy thriller. Published in 1915, it established many of the conventions that would later shape the genre: the innocent man on the run, hidden networks of espionage, coded secrets, and a race against time to stop catastrophe. It has inspired numerous adaptations across film, theatre, radio and television, most famously Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 film, and influenced movies such as The Fugitive, North by Northwest, Enemy of the State, and franchises such as James Bond and The Bourne Identity. In 2015, the novel was included in The Guardian’s list of 100 Best English Novels while in 2003, the book was listed on the BBC’s Big Read poll of Britain’s “best-loved novels.”

Written during the early months of the First World War, the novel appealed to an English reading public that had become gripped by invasion fever, a symptom of the jingoism and xenophobia inspired by the Anglo-German naval arms race. the novel captures a world on the edge of global conflict, giving its conspiracy narrative an added historical resonance.

The production is adaptable to a wide range of theatre spaces and can get in and go up same day. Our current touring circuit consists of theatres ranging in capacity from 300 to 1,000 seats.

We put a huge amount of work into producing high quality marketing materials and work with your team to ensure our visit is both an artistic and commercial success.