By Harry Mottram: Written in the aftermath of the Second World War George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984 has been seen as a cautionary tale, a prediction and a prophesy, or as a warning of how totalitarianism could come to dominate the globe. And with dictator Xi’s resurgent China, war monger Putin’s Russia and all manner of fears in other parts of the world maybe he wasn’t far wrong.
Now the story of Winston Smith’s battle to be an individual and in love in a world of mass surveillance and regimentation comes to the stage at Bath’s Mission Theare. Next Stage Theatre are producing Matthew Dunster’s adaptation from Tuesday, November 28, to Saturday, December 2, nightly at 7.30pm.
1984 added new words and phrases to the lexicon that includes Big Brother, Newspeak, Doublethink, Room 101, Thought Police and 2+2=5. Britain is reduced to a being landing strip one in a new super state Oceania that is continually at war with two other super powers. But there is a resistance movement and protagonist Winston Smith becomes curious with the world outside of Big Brother.
The publicity reads: “Winston Smith rewrites history for the Ministry of Truth, but when he’s handed a note that says simply ‘I love you’ by a woman he hardly knows, he decides to risk everything in a search for the real truth. In a world where cheap entertainment keeps the proles ignorant but content, where a war without end is always fought and the government is always watching, can Winston possibly hold onto what he feels inside? Or will he renounce everything, accept the Party’s reality and learn to love Big Brother?”
This production directed by Brian Hudd promises to bring a large cast to the stage with Winston played by Richard Chivers and his love interest Julia brought to life by Liz Wilson – and all fans of Orwell, dystopian futures and dramas that reveal the individual’s struggle against the state to life.
Cast:
Winston ……………………………………………… Richard Chivers
O’Brien/ Barman …………………..……………………. Brian Fisher
Julia …………………………………………………………. Liz Wilson
Goldstein/Old Man ………………………………… Reynold Leming
Mrs Parsons/Prole Woman ………………………… Perrine Maillot
Parsons Son ………………………………………………….. Ed Punt
Parsons Daughter ……………………………………… Sophia Punt
Syme/Gambling Prole/ Doctor ………….….……. Callum Marshall
Parsons/Gambling Prole/Waiter ……………………. Alistair Davey
Charrington/Thought Police Agent ……………. Bob Constantine
Starving Young Woman/Prole Woman ..……………… Julia Baker
Thought Police Guard 1 ……………………………… Ethan James
Thought Police Guard 2 ……………………………… Martin Allsop
Prostitute .…………………………………….………… Jane Lawson
Tickets at https://www.missiontheatre.co.uk/
Harry Mottram is the News Editor
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Harry Mottram is a freelance journalist. Follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Telegram, TikTok and Email:harryfmottram@gmail.com
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