A striking new stage adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984 will premiere at The Edge Theatre & Arts Centre in Chorlton later this month.
The production opens from 21 to 26 April before touring to the Ukrainian Centre in Rochdale on 8 May and the Drama Studio at the University of Sheffield on 12 May.
The adaptation is the debut project from Manchester-based collective Lost In Transit Theatre, whose work is described as disobedient storytelling that reshapes iconic texts through ensemble-led performance.
Seventy years after its publication, 1984 remains one of the defining works of dystopian fiction, following Winston Smith as he quietly rebels in a society ruled by surveillance, propaganda and the ever-present figure of Big Brother.
Lost In Transit Theatre’s version places humanity at the heart of the story, immersing audiences in Winston’s experience and asking how far an individual can be pushed before betraying those they love.
Rupert Hill takes on the role of Winston Smith, bringing the iconic character to the stage in a production focused on audio-visual dynamism and inventive staging.
Rupert Hill said: “The whole book is essentially Winston’s perspective and his psychology and this is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand I have a tremendous amount of insight into who this guy is (and he is truly fascinating, floored and complex) and on the other is Winston’s outward appearance and he is totally paranoid and careful not to incriminate himself so he doesn’t display much character at all. Everything is behind the eyes and this is a challenge especially as an actor on a stage. But I welcome the challenge and am enjoying finding the man”.
Lost In Transit Theatre is an emerging radical theatre collective dedicated to creating bold, imaginative performance that interrogates the present moment while placing audiences at the centre of the theatrical experience.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
