Edinburgh Fringe 2024
1984
witintheatre
Genre: Adaptation, Physical Theatre, Theatre
Venue: Summerhall
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
The Withintheatre company from Belarus has adapted George Orwell’s classic 1984 with inspiration from Nick Hern’s adaptation into a new contemporary adaptation. The company of five Slavic actors, directed by Sofia Barysevich create the dystopian science fiction world Orwell warned might appear when he wrote 1984 in 1949 as a warning for what could happen. Very well acted and directed.
Review
The Withintheatre company from Belarus has adapted George Orwell’s classic 1984 with inspiration from Nick Hern’s adaptation into a new contemporary adaptation. The company of five Slavic actors, directed by Sofia Barysevich create the dystopian science fiction world Orwell warned might appear when he wrote 1984 in 1949 as a warning for what could happen. Unfortunately parts of our world are living in such a society that is about control and limiting human rights. The Withintheatre website states that the company aims to connect with global audiences to share their experiences living in countries that veer towards authoritarian dystopia and that for them theatre is “not only a vital form of activism but also a warning!”
The cast of five play characters Winston Smith, Julia and O’Brien, the ensemble play other parts in scenes reenacted of Smith’s life, focusing on the moment he was captured for subversion. The set comprises a table where the ensemble sit, a camera on a tripod stage right and a screen stage left and another large screen on the upstage wall. Smith works for the Ministry of Truth rewriting history and he befriends Julia. O’Brien is suspected of becoming a spy and has Smith arrested so he can interrogate him, as is the norm in this society of Big Brother, whose big eye is ever present watching from the upstage screen.
The use of technology to film and project Smith’s character is haunting as his enlarged face on the screen shows his angst and reactions while being interrogated. It’s a fascinating theatrical device and heightens the seriousness of his purported crimes and searing interrogation against the always watching Big Brother. The big blue eye, stares out at us when projected on the back wall screen, is it a warning of the new normal to come?
This dramatic play is prescient and well performed and well directed. The character of O’Brien is particularly effectively played by Ivan Ivashkin. O’Brien was a citizen like everyone else but became. an agent and so his job is to give orders to drag people in for interrogation on the smallest of suspicions. Then he spends time doing a series of interrogations to break their characters and make them admit to political wrong doing. Ivashkin plays this part full on with several dimensions. For example, when he addresses us in the audience, as if we are the jury, he is charming, believable and professional. Occasionally he smirks and when he is questioning Smith relentlessly he is evil and even threatens Smith physically.
The main irony and perhaps inspired payoff (or payback) is when O’Brien has gone as far as he can in his role. The bitter need for complete control of people’s lives by Big Brother is threatening our lives and getting closer. Withintheatre has created an excellent piece of dramatic theatre that has gravitas and is provocative. See it if you can.
