Chilling theatre at its best and delivered with a real uncomfortableness that is gripping and terrifying at the same time.
Clydebank born writer Chris Hannan is known for his expertise in adapting novels, but his latest work far exceeds his normal brilliance.
Hannan has delved into the complicated world of writer George Orwell and his dystopian and speculative fiction novel, 1984, which was written as the author rested from a bout of tuberculosis, which eventually killed him.
And 1984 currently showing at the Citizen’s Theatre in Glasgow is centred around when Orwell travelled to Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride for treatment while he wrote the book on the Isle of Jura.
Orwell is at the centre of the play which is based on how he used his life experiences to write the novel. Relying heavily on his time fighting in the Spanish Civil War as a communist, it fundamentally shaped his political views.
In hospital, he meets Mr Dick, a thoracic medicine specialist who fought on the fascist side of the war and the play sees actor Jack Tarlton play both Orwell and the 1984 fictional character, Winston Smith.
Tarlton is made for the part, and his powerful portrayal is fantastic as he shows his character’s vulnerability and brokenness.
His brilliance is matched by Jessica Hardwick as Julia, Winston’s lover and confidant, who stays loyal to him to the end, even though it’s not reciprocated.
Joined by a strong ensemble of Irene Allan (Mrs Syme), Neshla Caplan (De Souza), Peter Collins (Parsons), Robert Jack (Syme), Irene MacDougall (O’Brien) and Zrey Sholapurkar (Comrade Ogilvy), the play benefits from fabulous direction from Dominic Hill, a modern, dark set by Tom Piper, eerie lighting from Lizzie Powell and powerful music by Nikola Kodjabashia.
The play brings to life Orwell’s take on a bleak world ruled by absolute Government control, mass surveillance and the complete erasure of individual truth.
It’s cruel, dark and barbaric and truly unsettling at times, with only the tiniest bit of hope and colour and some horrible scenes of torture, made worse by periods when the stage is plunged into darkness.
The well written and excellently acted play keeps the audience hoping that the bleakness will go away and everyone leaves with a fragility that everything will be alright in the end.
1984 runs at the Citizen’s Theatre, Glasgow until 26th September before moving to Dundee Rep from 30th September to 10th October, His Majesty’s Theatre from 13th to 17th October and The Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh from 27th October until 7th November 2026.
For ticket information, see www.citz.co.uk
Author Bio:
Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2.
Photographs by Michaela Bodlovic
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