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1984 came to the GWA with menace, censorship and thought control trailing in its wake. Alex Mancuso’s gritty and hard-hitting production left few stones unturned in its searing portrayal of grainy totalitarianism, his excellent cast of young actors imaginatively supported by technical wizardry and compelling stagecraft.
Shifting between past, present and future, this stage adaptation of Orwell’s iconic novel spoke to all ages by exploring the conflicts between individual conscience and government coercion. While Ralph M’s colossal and nuanced performance as Winston Smith was the undoubted highlight, Felix Z-F and Kit K who split the role of O’Brien, and Cressida M-C and Izzy M who did likewise with Julia, ensured that this was an evening of real power and balance. Miles K shone as Charrington, the sinister Antiques dealer, while Wynn H, Max M, Tessa S and Annie S all pointed to the talented and healthy state of the College’s Drama Dept.
Wellington’s 1984 was not only a glimpse of a nightmare future present, but also a timely reminder of Drama’s power to illuminate and inform. With the direction of UK politics slipping further to the right and echoes of 1930s Germany ever more insistent, it seems doubly important that Wellington theatre is finding such a powerful voice.
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