Tickets for 1984, currently showing at the Northcott Theatre are in high demand and it is not hard to see why.
I went to the sell-out show on Tuesday night and already tickets for the rest of the performances – running up until Saturday, October 18 – have gone.
The popular play is an adaptation on the George Orwell's famous novel which follows the life, and diary, of Winston Smith – a clerk in the Records Department of the Ministry of Truth who is trapped in a world of government surveillance and public manipulation.
The directors Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan do an excellent job in setting the play beginning the play in the future where a group examine Smith's diary sometime and what it means to their society.
It then follows Smith through his adventure as he rebels against Big Brother - the dictator of the totalitarian state that watches and controls every aspect of his life - falls in love with fellow protester Julia, gets caught by the party and tortured in the Ministry of Love and Room 101.
I am massive fan of the book and could therefore follow the play quite easily. However, even if you hadn't read the classic novel the play is so well scripted – for example in its explanation of phrases such as newspeak and doublethink – that even someone completely new to the idea of Orwellian super state would not be left perplexed.
Smith, played by Matthew Spencer, is brilliant as one of the lead actors and, like the play, his performance gets to its peak at the torture stage when the actor spits fake blood across the stage having had his teeth electrocuted.
Tim Dutton's performance also reaches it high point here as he delivers a chilling portrayal of O'Brien - an interrogator of the thought police.
Dutton has appeared in many theatre shows and on TV. He has a wealth of acting experience like many others in the production. However, a special mention must also go to the performance of Janine Harouni as Julia, who makes her professional debut in 1984 and is intense, lively and just as I would have predicted the character in the book to be.
Added to that the lighting and sound is excellent as they regularly shock and dazzle the audience, while at the same time allowing the play to transition seamlessly between past, present and future.
There is also a video aspect to the play, which helps expand the set and give allow the show to portray a room away from the watchful eye of Big Brother.
It really is a must see play, but if you haven't already got your ticket you might be out of luck.
