Gruesome scenes in Room 101 spark audience reaction

I first read 1984 as a schoolboy in the 1960s and it was terrifying.

That was during the Cold War, after Stalin’s reign of terror in the Soviet Union, when the idea of the state controlling everyone with thought police and torture seemed a distinct possibility.

This scenario seems a little less likely now in the West, despite the fear of mass surveillance and atrocities around the world. But this production of George Orwell’s 1984 at the arts centre was still gruesome and very disturbing.

An overwhelmingly young audience showed great 
appreciation of the cast’s 
efforts, many of them standing to applaud at the end.

This adaptation by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan includes debate on Orwell’s idea of Newspeak and its 
effect on the world.

Indeed the opening and closing scenes see a book group discussing it in the 21st century. The time switching does cause some initial confusion but back in the bad old 1984 it is obvious that poor old Winston Smith is in for a tough time.

His determination to think for himself rather than toe the Party line is bound to get him into trouble. With Big Brother watching him he cannot duck out of the daily exercise routine or the five minute hate sessions against those who rebel.

Winston is well played by Mark Arends and his relationship with girlfriend Julia (Hara Yannas) provides a ray of hope. They eat illicit chocolate, drink real coffee and even enjoy sex, thinking that Big Brother can’t see them.

But he catches up with them and the dramatic conclusion, played out in the brilliantly set Room 101, is so gruesome that many in the audience covered their faces. Torturer-in-chief O’Brien is masterfully played by Tim Dutton.

The staging is excellent with a screen above showing the couple’s secret moments.

Peter Gawthorpe