1984

Theatre (adaptation, physical theatre)

Venue 26
Summerhall - Old Lab
Times vary. Click 'Dates, times and prices' to view the calendar
Aug 10-11
1 hour
Suitability: 16+ (Guideline)
Country: Belarus
Group: witintheatre
Warnings and additional info: Strobe lighting. Scenes of violence. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes; psychological and physical torture, suppression of freedom, surveillance and control.

Accessibility:

May not apply to all performances. You'll find more information about accessibile performances and how to book tickets in the accessibility tab below.
Babes in arms policy: Babies do not require a ticket
Policy applies to: Children under 2 years

Please note, latecomers may not be admitted.

Description

1984 is a compelling physical theatre adaptation of George Orwell's classic, performed by Slavic actors. With inspiration from Nick Hern's adaptation, it delves into themes of surveillance and control, offering a haunting and immersive experience that challenges perceptions of truth and reality. Through expressive movement and visceral choreography, audiences are transported into Orwell's dystopian universe, feeling the oppressive atmosphere of Big Brother's world firsthand. This innovative fusion of physicality and narrative captivates spectators, leaving a lasting impact and sparking thought-provoking conversations about the state of our society and the dangers of unchecked power.

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General venue access

Accessible entry: Once in the Courtyard, standing facing the Royal Dick, enter through the ground floor double doors to your left. Walk past the Anatomy Lecture Theatre and through the double doors, take a right; down to the end of the corridor, Old Lab is directly ahead.

Wheelchair access type: Level Access

Stairs: Information not supplied

Each venue can contain several space with different accessibly information. Visit the venue page for full venue accessibility info

How and when to make an access booking

Phone: +44 (0)131 226 0002
Email: [email protected]
Textphone: +44 (0)7860 018 299
Find out more about access at the Fringe.

Our access tickets service is available to anyone who:

Would like to book specific accessibility services, e.g. a hearing loop, audio description headsets, captioning units, seating in relation to the location of the BSL interpreter
Requires extra assistance when at a venue
Has specific seating requirements
Is a wheelchair user
Requires a complimentary personal assistant ticket to attend a performance

Jeans P. 57 days ago

The performance was powerful and intriguing. The interpretation and the expressions were pure genius! Definitely a 5-star for me. I’m so glad I bought the ticket, it was a memorable experience.

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Tony Davis 58 days ago

Orwell’s dystopian nightmare, performed by a talented young cast of genuine Russian dissidents. Genius! 5⭐️

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Bart Quince 59 days ago

To see one of my favorite novels reinvigorated in such an imaginative fashion was a real treat! Regietheatre is not without its challenges at the best of times, but when the text has a reputation of this scale, to pull of such a success is no mean feat! Chilling and claustrophobic from start to finish, with the added poignancy of the contemporary setting, the blurring of the lines between the disciplinary society (Foucault) and the control society (Deleuze) and of course the personal stories of the actors, 1984 at Summerhall is unmissable piece of theatre at this year's Fringe. I, Bart Quince, a critic for some years, award the show five stars and urge anyone reading this to go see it tomorrow!

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Lara 61 days ago

A powerful show. Even before it started there was a sense of menace. Excellent performances all round, glad I went to see it.

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Claire 61 days ago

This was a powerfully physical performance of Orwell’s 1984. Against the backdrop of the Ukraine war (and the frightening rise of the far right) there is no more relevant play to see in these times. Particularly of note is the personal story of one of the Russian actors, who fled the Putin regime two years ago after arrest who now bravely works against the regime from the outside. Drop everything to see it.

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Liz Lea 61 days ago

An incredible show, brilliant staging and the performers were superb - a must see production!

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Grahame 61 days ago

Really captured the horror of the novel brilliantly in just an hour. Sadly, as relevant today as it was when it was written.
Summerhall need to think about ventilation for the venue - it was unbearably hot.

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Jane Ritchie 63 days ago

Really powerful, brilliant show. So sad that it’s as relevant today as it was when written. Fantastic acting and staging.

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Olivia Salem 63 days ago

An incredible piece of theatre, eye-opening with a powerful message. Recommend to all!

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Gabriella Smith 64 days ago

Amazing actors and well thought out. Great performance with a deep and important message

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Charlotte Gage 64 days ago

Incredible show. Brilliant acting, powerful messages.

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The Scotsman (4/5 stars) 47 days ago

"the production’s power lies in the fact that, for this company, Orwell is not simply a classic text, it’s a living, breathing description of life in a place not too far away."

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Starburst Magazine (4/5 stars) 47 days ago

The adaptation of 1984 is accessible, important, and thought-provoking, and also suitable for persons who may be studying the book at GCSE or higher level. Brilliant and serious.

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