1984 By George Orwell

Adapted by Chris Hannan

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

When the iron goes up in the Citizens Theatre a hospital bed is centre stage amongst an industrial looking set with scaffolding holding a walkway round the top of the stage.

This bed is in Hairmyres hospital where George Orwell was hospitalised after contracting TB. He has travelled from the Island of Jura. 

Told by the hospital staff to lie on his back instead of sitting up and typing as it’s bad for his condition, no mention is made of the copious amounts of cigarettes he smokes. 

In conversation we find out he fought against Franco in the Spanish Civil war, his doctor on the other hand fought for the fascists. 

Amid the piles of paper he starts to write the now famous opening line “ It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen”

At that point George Orwell becomes Winston Smith and the story begins. 

By having these 1950’s insights into George Orwell we get a real feel of the man who wrote the novel. It also gives book ends, he appears the beginning of Act Two and at the end, giving the watcher the real book like feel to the novel. It’s a story not fact. 

In the book we know the regime of Big Brother has ended. In the first few pages Orwell cites in an Asterisk * Newspeak was the official language of Oceana. This  makes the novel historical. 

Jack Tarlton as Winston and Jessica Hardwick his co-conspirator and lover Julia are really given the chance to explore their friendship and love affair in this adaptation. It’s their love that keeps him from confessing as long as he possibly can. 

Irene MacDougall is spectacular as O’Brien a member of the inner circle who Winston believes he can trust. 

The torture scenes towards the end are brutal and frightening. As horrific and violent as they are there is surprisingly tender moments, as Winston embraces his torturer. 

The set and lighting design is phenomenal, huge revolves, great iron bars coming down and a delightful country scene where Winston and Julia first cement their love. 

In a time when children spy on their parents, friends double cross friends, TV screens constantly monitor us and our thoughts are monitored, there is still time for tenderness. Even if they are the walking dead, they know their indiscretions can get them shot. 

This play has a huge ensemble cast and every one is perfect in their parts, Irene Allen, Neshla Caplan, Peter Collins, Jessica Hardwick, Robert Jack, Irene MacDougall, Zrey Sholapurkar and Jack Tarlton. 

This is a long play at almost 3 hours (including interval ) however, It never feels long Dominic Hill keeps the story tidy and easy to follow with the impending sense of dread never leaving the stage, even in the scenes in the country a watcher was looking on from the top of the stage. 

Although written in 1948 just after the war and the defeat of fascism, it is just as relevant today with despots in power, the rise of discrimination and constant monitoring in our day-to-day life. 

How long will it be until we end up in Room 101 being tortured for a post on social media speaking out about our own government. Or a right wing paper like the Daily Mail convinces it’s readers 2+2=5.