75 years since it was first published and 40 years on from the dystopian future in which it is set comes a new stage production of the George Orwell classic. Here, Keith Allen plays the sinister O’Brien, but it is Mark Quartley as Winston who gives the stand-out performance in a staging that’ll linger with you long after the curtain falls. Our 1984 theatre review continues below.
It is 1984, a new world where Big Brother is watching. Always. A future where all are monitored continuously; their every action, their every word and even their thoughts. This world is run by ‘The Party’, a totalitarianism government and their mysterious leader, Big Brother, who is intent on wiping out those who stand against their beliefs. Winston Smith (Quartley), comrade 6079, works at the Ministry of Truth where he spends his days rewriting history, which largely consists of sifting through old newspaper editions and replacing historical fact with more favourable content. He lives next door to Parsons (David Birrell), an irritant to Winston who tows the party line.
On April the 4th, 1984, he starts a diary where he notes his innermost thoughts, most of them condemning those who run the state and secretly harbours want of a rebellion against the regime -DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER. He soon observes Julia (here played by Eleanor Wyld) who he sees as a an opponent, but who one day passes him a note declaring her love and an affair ensues, one that’ll lead to the two heading for the dreaded Room 101 as their lies and treason is ultimately exposed.
Following a debut in September at the Theatre Royal Bath, 1984 takes to the road with this bold new production which attracted audience members from a wide range of age groups – at least at our press night. Our seats were seemingly sandwiched between middle-aged folk trying to remember the story from decades past, to fresh-faced teenagers obviously requested to attend by their GCSE teachers to aid their current studies.
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As you enter the auditorium, one’s attention is immediately pulled to the all-seeing eye on the stage in front of us; a huge LED screen with cameras pointing into the audience, relaying footage as we took to our seats. In fact, it is the magnificent production and stage design which is the stand out of the show, the video monitor a huge character in proceedings, be it an interaction with various on-screen characters, woodland setting or a transparent dream sequence called for during the swift two-hour runtime.
Allen is brilliant, more prominent in the second half, particularly during a centrepiece torture sequence which is both powerful and utterly horrific. This one scene and especially the shocking aftermath is absolutely terrifying, Winston’s fate skilfully staged with pitch black visuals, relying instead on pitch perfect sound design that’ll have some attendees wincing in their seats.
Writer Ryan Craig’s adaptation plays with plot and combines key characters from the book – there are only four speaking roles in this – but the core of Orwell’s dystopian nightmare is very much intact. Coupled with the acclaimed Lindsay Posner’s direction, this version of the deeply prescient 1984 is simply unmissable in this anniversary year. Seek it out.
1984 theatre review, Lighthouse, Poole. 1984 plays at Lighthouse, Poole until 12th October before continuing on a nationwide tour.
