If casting Matt Smith as Patrick Bateman in a musical adaptation of Brett Easton Ellis’ American Psycho isn’t cool enough, the Almeida Theatre is going to follow that up with a new adaptation of George Orwell’s classic dystopian all seeing eye, 1984. Bringing the real Big Brother, thoughtcrimes, Room 101 and doublethink to London’s West End, along with Winston Smith and Julia’s minor acts of rebellion it’s shaping up to be a very impressive year for the theatre.
Opening on the 8th February 2014 with a run through until the 29th March, it’s got the potential to be the reiteration of Orwell’s genius that’s needed every now and again. Ticket prices start from just £8, but there’s a restricted view apparently and a partially restricted view with the £16 tickets, although someone will be able to see you at all times. There will also be ticket options that don’t have a giant eyeball in the way at £24 and £32.
Evening performances will start at 7:30pm between Monday and Saturday and there will be 2:30 matinee performances on Saturdays (with the exception of the 29th March 2014, which will be a 4pm show) and there will be a couple of matinee performance on Wednesdays too on the 26th February 2014 and the 12th March 2014.
Co-produced by Headlong and Nottingham Playhouse, the play is the latest adaptation of the novel that was first published in 1949. Telling the story of Winston Smith’s attempts to keep a journal criticising the government and the power of Big Brother, along with his whirlwind, dangerous liaison with Julia. However, in Oceania there is no hiding, there’s nowhere safe and there’s no way for your own thoughts to stay out of the hands of the powers that be.
The production has cast Mark Arends as Winston, Tim Dutton as O’Brien, Hara Yannas as Julia, Stephen Fewell as Charrington, Christopher Patrick Nolan as Martin, Matthew Spencer as Syme, Gavin Spokes as Parsons and Mandi Symonds as Mrs Parsons.
The new adaptation has been created by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan, bringing the novel to the 21st century. With its criticism of excessive state power, over surveillance and opinion censoring it’s a story that’s just as relevant today as it was when it was first released. It’s the kind of novel that helps to keep the world in check and remind people to equilise once in a while, so hopefully the upcoming production at the Almeida Theatre will do George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty Four the justice that it always deserves.
The play will follow on from the media might of its American Psycho production that runs from the 4th December 2013 to the 25th January 2014, which sold out at a frightening pace. While we don’t think 1984 will go a similar way necessarily without the fan girl love of Matt Smith to boost it, but with all the attention the theatre is getting tickets could get tight every now an again.
