Theatre Royal Bath’s Adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984 Announces Cast and Tour Dates

The highly anticipated new adaptation of George Orwell’s dystopian classic 1984 is set to hit the stage next month, with Theatre Royal Bath announcing the full cast and tour dates for the production.

Penned by Ryan Craig (The Holy Rosenbergs, Our Class) and directed by Lindsay Posner (Noises Off, A View From The Bridge), the show will debut in Bath from 20 to 28 September 2024. Following its opening run, the production will embark on a UK tour, visiting Malvern Theatre (1 to 5 October), Poole’s Lighthouse Theatre (8 to 12 October), Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre (15 to 19 October), Cambridge Arts Theatre (22 to 26 October), Theatre Royal Brighton (29 October to 2 November), Richmond Theatre (12 to 16 November), and Liverpool Playhouse (19 to 23 November).

First published in 1949, 1984 has long been hailed as one of the most chillingly prophetic novels of the 20th century, envisioning a society under the grip of mass surveillance and totalitarian control by the figure of Big Brother.

The cast features Keith Allen (The Young Ones) as O’Brien, Mark Quartley (Inside Man) as Winston, Eleanor Wyld (Macbeth) as Julia, and David Birrell (King John) as Parsons. Niamh Bennett takes on the role of the Voice of the Telescreen, with Lewis Hart operating the camera.

The creative team includes Justin Nardella handling set, costume, and video design, Paul Pyant on lighting design, and Giles Thomas overseeing sound design. The team is rounded out by associate video designer Stanley Orwin-Fraser, casting director Ginny Schiller, associate director George Jibson, and assistant designer Lorelei Cairns.

With a stellar cast and creative team, this adaptation of 1984 promises to bring Orwell’s haunting vision of the future to life on stage. Make sure to catch it when it comes to a theatre near you!