1984 by George Orwell

In the midst of Winston's rare moment of peace as granted by Big Brother, he is haunted by the echoes of his now-past suffering and pain. As he awaits his monthly allotment of drink, memories of torture and mental conditioning flood his mind, but amidst the turmoil, a distant yet persistent memory emerges – a woman, always present in the shadows of his recollections.

Though her face and name elude him, Winston is determined to unravel the mystery of her existence. Was she real, or merely a figment of his imagination? Could she hold the key to his identity and freedom, the missing piece of his fractured mind?

As Winston delves deeper into the recesses of his consciousness, he begins to hold on to the possibility that some part of his mind may remain untouched by the relentless efforts to erase his past. The woman, undefined yet ever-present, becomes a symbol of hope and resilience in the face of pervasive oppression.

In this thought-provoking adaptation of George Orwell's 1984, Director, Playwright, and Acting Coach H. Sven Fernandez invites us to confront the inhumanity of modern surveillance societies through the eyes of those who fall prey to its dehumanizing grip. Through Winston's struggle to reclaim his lost memories, we are reminded of the danger of becoming complacent in the face of oppression and accepting it in any form, amount or capacity.

Production and Original Work

"1984" is a profoundly unsettling tale of two lovers navigating an oppressive totalitarian regime ruled by the ever-watchful Big Brother. This story delves into the struggle for individual and intellectual freedoms, where the fight against an all-encompassing system leads to a fate more harrowing than death: the total erasure of individual willpower.

Presented in a modernized format for the stage by H.S. Fernandez, this adaptation of "1984" retains the essence of the original storyline while seamlessly incorporating contemporary elements and events. This innovative blend invites audiences to reflect on the parallels between the original narrative and today’s socio-political challenges.

Director H.S. Fernandez and his talented creative team have incorporated the story into an interlaced framework that brilliantly combines Grotowski's Poor Theatre, Classical Greek Theatre as well as modernist Brechtian elements. Combined with layered symbolism and the fractured narrative of a broken mind, this performance promises to be a rich and profoundly moving experience for theatre lovers.

Don't miss this year's large-scale production at NoName Theatre! Join us as we explore the depths of human resilience and the fight for freedom in a world where privacy is a distant memory.

Cast

WINSTON - Nicola Bagalá

JULIA - Ernesta Nesta

O'BRIEN - Payam Salarvand

SYME / ELDER 1 - Lotta Haikkala

OFFICER A / ELDER 2 - Ilona Jalkanen

HOBO - Victor Stigzelius

COACH / SEDUCTRESS / OFFICER B / MRS. PARSONS - Anastasia K

ELDER 3 / PARSONS - Hakan Kandemir

Creative Team

Sound/Light Tech Veeti Jaakkola

Props Manager Merlin Sauer

Media Specialist David Martin

Stage Manager Evelin Hürlimann

Assistant Director Jasper Kotiranta

Director, Writer, Dramaturg H. S. Fernandez