George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, published 1949, emerged from a post-World War II landscape deeply scarred by totalitarian regimes like Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia.
As a fan of the classics and a bit of a literary nerd, my plus one and I were very excited to see Shake & Stir Theatre Co.’s production of 1984 on the last leg of a mammoth 30-venue Australian tour.
For anyone that doesn’t know the history of this classic dystopian novel, Orwell, a democratic socialist and anti-Stalinist, penned this story as a chilling warning against the dangers of unchecked state power, mass surveillance, and the manipulation of truth and language.
Concepts like “Big Brother,” and “thought police,” originated from this book and have since become ingrained in our daily language.
The live adaption, which has been expertly handled by the creative team at Shake & Stir, follows Winston Smith (Michael Whalley, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), who lives in a bleak, totalitarian society controlled by The Party and its omnipresent leader, Big Brother.
Dissatisfied with his life and the Party’s constant surveillance and manipulation of truth, Winston begins to secretly write a diary – an act of rebellion punishable by death.
After falling in love with Julia (Chloe Bayliss), they engage in a forbidden affair, finding fleeting moments of intimacy and defiance against the Party’s control.
Winston and Julia are eventually captured by the Thought Police and taken to the Ministry of Love, a terrifying place of torture and re-education. There, Winston undergoes horrific physical and psychological torment designed to break his spirit and force him to love Big Brother.
Today, 75 years after its publication, 1984 remains profoundly relevant, serving as a vital cautionary tale in an era grappling with increasing government surveillance, the pervasive spread of misinformation, and the erosion of individual privacy.
Its themes resonate acutely in a world where digital technologies enable unprecedented monitoring, where political narratives are often distorted, and where the line between fact and fiction can feel increasingly blurred.
The cast for the night we attended included Chloe Bayliss, Tony Cogin, Abhilash Kaimal, Steven Rooke, Michael Whalley, and David Whitney who all delivered powerful performances.
The creative design team was particularly effective in creating the oppressive atmosphere with Video Designer Craig Wilkinson’s Big Brother always watching. We also loved the lighting and sound design.
1984 is a timeless work that continues to provoke critical thinking about the nature of power and the importance of truth, making its message more urgent than ever.
It’s a powerful and exciting piece of theatre and Shake & Stir Theatre Co have truly brought Orwell’s vision to life on stage.
– The Plus Ones
