Acclaimed Cast Announced for Shake & Stir Theatre Co’s Epic Nationwide Tour for Orwell’s 1984
Shake & Stir Theatre Co is proud to announce the cast for its highly anticipated 2025 national tour of 1984, George Orwell’s chilling dystopian masterpiece.
Following the success of its recent national tour of Frankenstein, the company once again pushes theatrical boundaries with a production that promises to challenge and engage – culminating in an edge-of-your-seat night at the theatre.
The exceptional cast features a line-up of celebrated Australian performers, including Michael Whalley (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) as Winston Smith, Chloe Bayliss (Doctor Doctor) as Julia, and returning to the role of O’Brien is David Whitney (The Wharf Revue, My Fair Lady), sharing the role with Tony Cogin (Frankenstein). Rounding off the cast is Steven Rooke (Fourteen, Animal Farm) and Abhilash Kaimal (Nautilus). Their performances will bring to life the harrowing world of Oceania, where
surveillance is omnipresent, truth is rewritten, and resistance is perilous.
Adapted by Shake & Stir’s Co-Artistic Directors Nelle Lee and Nick Skubij, and directed by Michael Futcher, this production remains faithful to Orwell’s original narrative while delivering a gripping, high-impact theatrical experience. The awardwinning creative team includes Josh McIntosh (Designer), Jason Glenwright (Lighting Designer), Guy Webster (Sound Designer), and Craig Wilkinson (Video Designer).
Nick Skubij:
The parallels between Orwell’s world and our own are striking—not just in politics, but across all aspects of modern life. His exploration of fear and control is something we were eager to bring to the stage and we are thrilled to have assembled a brilliant cast that will tear into this powerful piece of theatre.
David Whitney who returns to play the role of O’Brien, shares his thoughts:
I am “double plus” excited to be reprising the role of O’Brien in Shake & Stir’s thrilling adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984 – this production remains a highlight of my career. I can’t wait to revisit the dystopian world we created so effectively and to re-explore its terrifying complexities with a new lens in 2025.
Performing 1984 today is more than revisiting a classic—it’s a wake-up call. Orwell’s message has never been more urgent, and I can’t wait for audiences to experience it again.
The 2025 national tour of 1984 will visit over 30 venues across Australia, including performances at the Sydney’s Glen Street Theatre (15 – 17 May), Canberra Theatre Centre (5 – 7 June), Adelaide Festival Centre (26 – 28 June), and Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre (1 – 6 July).
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