Award Nominated Performances in 1984
1984, the Senior School Production wrapped up last week! Set in a dystopian Britain now called Airstrip One, we follow Winston Smith, who works at the Ministry of Truth erasing records of those the party has deemed to be dangerous. George Orwell’s defining novel is a classic dystopia warning us of the dangers of over-surveillance, and a study of the role of language in ideology and indoctrination. Duncan Macmillan and Robert Icke’s adaptation of the book focuses particularly on the appendix and its central question: can we ever trust what we’re being told?
It’s an ambitious show and staging it in the round made that challenge even harder. But all involved rose to it, generating a dynamic and stimulating performance. The cast came together beautifully, each inhabiting the authoritarian feel of the play brilliantly, from Max’s emotional peaks in the final moments of torture to George M’s vindictive O’Brien to the tone-setting guards and sinister torturers. In our version, the character of Winston was split, with the two actors often switching mid-scene. Max and Charlie’s dynamic made even the most attentive audience members question whether they could believe what they were seeing. Dissent is a core theme of Orwell’s story and this came in the form of Emily’s compelling portrayal of Julia, the rogue love interest who tempts Winston to see things differently.
We were enormously impressed by the technical achievements of those working on the show, from an automated rat cage to “telescreens” sharing both the propaganda of Big Brother and the internal thoughts of the characters. Bringing all of this together was Mrs Richards’s wonderful score. Playing from on high, the string quintet punctuated the piece with an uneasy tone, immersing us in the unforgiving world.
Congratulations to everyone who took part and contributed in any way. It is a very challenging show, technically and artistically, and the final result exceeded our hopes of creating something nuanced, thought-provoking, and gripping. Well done.
We wait with bated breath and appreciate your crossed fingers for the National School Theatre Awards verdict on our four nominations for Best Actor (Max K.), Best Actress (Emily B.), Best Supporting (George M.), and Best Play.
