1984: Review

AD: Press Tickets thanks to Malvern Theatres

75 years ago, George Orwell imagined what 1984 would look like. In Orwell’s masterpiece, every action is controlled and monitored. Independent thought is a relic of days gone by. Fast forward to today and Theatre Royal Bath Productions have created a brand new stage adaptation of the novel. We headed to Malvern Theatres to see this iconic piece of writing transformed for the stage.

About 1984

Published in 1949, Orwell’s novel has for many years been considered a classic, so most of us are aware of the plot. The Party controls Oceania, where the majority of the population have been brainwashed into compliance. The protagonist, Winston is keeping a diary in which he shares his own individual thoughts. This is completely forbidden, so he must try to hide it from the ever-present big brother.

When Winston meets Julia, he is unsure whether to trust her. She soon convinces him to join her in a woodland that she believes is not being watched by screens. Here, they develop a passionate relationship based on their shared mistrust of The Party.

At around the same time, Winston is approached by O’Brien, who befriends him. Winston believes that O’Brien is part of a group of dissenters that are working to overthrow the party. He and Julia approach O’Brien with evidence that information being shared by The Party is false, and they agree to join the resistance.

This may all sound a little dark, but becomes even darker in the second half of the show, in which Winston is betrayed, caught and tortured by the thought police. His loyalty to Julia and his faith in humanity are both tested to the max, as he undergoes the brainwashing process that will make him tow the party line.

The Cast of the 2024 Stage Adaptation of 1984

• O’Brien: Keith Allen
• Winston: Mark Quartley
• Julia: Eleanor Wyld
• Parsons: David Birrell
• Ensemble: Lewis Hart, Paul Sockett and Niamh Bennett

Additionally, a number of actors feature in pre-recorded footage, including Matthew Horne as Ampleforth and Nicholas Woodeson as Big Brother.

What I thought of the show

Like most people, I first read 1984 when I was at school. Whilst the underlying message was hard-hitting, I remember finding the novel itself a little bit dry. The same cannot be said for the stage adaptation.

On entering the auditorium, the audience are greeted by a huge screen on the stage. It takes a while to notice that the camera displayed on the screen is scrolling around the audience. Once the show starts, it becomes clear that the screen is watching the characters.

This use of video with live actors immediately transports theatre-goers into Oceania. Traditional stage-lighting and strip lighting combine to create a chilling atmosphere that is heightened by O’Brien sitting in the wings, barely visible, watching everything that’s going on.

In my opinion, 1984 was made for dramatisation. I was pleased to see that quite a lot of school children attended the performance. I can only assume that they’re studying the text for GCSE or A-Level. Many of them gave the actors a standing ovation at the end, indicating that the stage show really brought the text to life for them, as it did for me.

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