By George Orwell

Adapted by Blind Summit

Reviewer: Marie Kenny

For those looking to avoid the silly string and screaming children this festive season, BAC has 1984. Not so full of the joys of Christmas! Audiences may connect this play to Channel 4’s Big Brother which is beamed into our living rooms, but I doubt they’d be expecting the emotional terror described in the book.

In a twist from the novel, Blind Summit have created a play within a play. The piece opens with a chorus of uniformed, brainwashed citizen-actors ready to take on their roles in Orwell’s story. Never leaving the stage, the ensemble presents the story of wistful, idealistic Winston; a civil servant wanting to rebel against an all-seeing state.

The Ministry of Truth monitor every move and change the past to suit whatever the current governing policy is. For Winston it’s only a matter of time before his illicit romance with Julia is discovered, and the consequences at the end are crushing.

However, this particular version of Orwell’s classic does manage to bring a level of humour to the piece, with one particularly memorable sex scene in a field that sticks in the mind. This comic element is blended with an extremely Brechtian feel to the whole piece. Each scene is given a title and narration, from the chorus, an A level teachers dream but as a result it’s not until the very end that we begin to feel for the character’s plight.

Rather than the predictable multi-media extravaganza, they’ve opted for a very low tech, minimalist approach- even the spying televisions are made from cardboard. The handful of puppets have cardboard heads and soft bodies, and yet they are manipulated in such a believable, humanistic way.

The incredible strength of the production is the physicality and skill of the performers, every second is highly polished, bursting with speed and energy. There are times when this production feels a little text heavy, I couldn’t help but feel that they could do an amazing job without it.

Photos: 1st Ed Collier, 2nd Briget Hupfeld – Runs until 9th Jan 2010

1984 - Battersea Arts Centre, London5.052

Tags: 1984, BAC, Big Brother, Blind Summit, Camera, George Orwell, London, Puppets