My school’s Advanced English group and I saw a performance of the play 1984 at Savoy theater on the 20th of April. It was an adaptation based on George Orwell’s cautionary book “1984”. The play takes place in Oceania, a totalitarian state where the Party controls every aspect of life. Winston Smith is a worker at the Ministry of Truth where his job is to alter historical records, so that the past is always in line with current propaganda. Winston struggles against this system and maintaining his memory and identity. His relationship with Julia becomes a way of rebellion, since love and intimacy are political acts in this world, until the two of them are caught by O’Brian. Overall, the play was thought-provoking and its topic is very relevant in today’s world.
The most vital parts of any play are the actors and the characters that they play. The actors in this play portrayed their assigned characters quite well. The dialogue, at times monologue, and the conveying of emotions were quite clear and made the play very easy to follow. The play itself only consisted of a handful of crucial characters, which also contributed to the straightforwardness.
The stage was simple, only containing what was necessary, such as the screen where Big Brother, a symbolic leader, is always sitting and watching every move made by the citizens of Oceania and the desks of the workers that are shown. The lighting and the noise of birds was used to create a sense of calmness during a scene set in a forest. The lighting was also used to create tension and fear in some instances such as when Julia and Winston were tortured due to their pursuit to rebel.
Smaller props such as the ketchup bottle during lunch time made me laugh due to the funny sound effects used. I liked how the play contained some musical elements, such as a short song about Big Brother, but did not rely heavily on music. The simple props and sound effects made the transitions seamless and somewhat unnoticeable. I do have to point out that my seat was directly next to the sound technician, which unfortunately distracted me a few times.
The atmosphere of the play was intense and deeply unsettling, especially in the latter part of it, creating a feeling of tension and unease. The blue overalls that all the workers of the ministry had on truly represented the lack of individuality. The red ribbon tied around Julia’s hips symbolises that she is trying to rebel against this system even with a small act. Beyond its story, the play explored how power can shape truth and erase personal identity, leaving the audience to reflect on how fragile freedom can be.
In conclusion, the play was worth seeing because it combined strong performances with a powerful and relevant message. I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates thought-provoking theatre or is interested in politics, as its greatest strength was its ability to challenge the audience to question society and authority.
Picture: https://images.nextory.com/9781915268112.jpg?fit=clip&auto=format&w=350&h=350
Venla Kostamo 
Milla Oinas 