Winston Smith is in prison, found guilty of Thoughtcrimes against Big Brother. As part of his reconstruction, he must re-enact key moments from his past life, with the help of other thought criminals, so that everyone can learn from his mistakes. Including his biggest mistake of all: falling in love with Julia. George Orwell's classic dystopia 1984 is a still-resonant vision of the tolls of living under totalitarianism. Constructed almost entirely from dialogue taken from the original novel, this bold and powerful dramatisation restores the blazing heart of Orwell's work: a doomed love story, with the lovers at its centre. This pre-eminently stageable version, adapted with an eye on economy by Nick Hern for a cast of five or more, is ideal for any school, youth group or amateur company looking to bring Orwell's chilling vision to life on stage.
"'Both a caustic critique of contemporary society's treatment of young people and an exploration of the role of language in the perpetuation and justification of the practices under critique'"
Exeunt Magazine on Start Swimming
"'Theatrical and fun... radiates a puckishness and sense of mischief that mocks control systems even as it articulates their bleakness'"
Time Out on Start Swimming
"'Raw and vivid... a powerful indictment of the situation in which many people find themselves'"
