1984

An adaptation of George Orwell's novel directed by Carlos Martínez-Abarca, bringing to the Teatro Fernán Gómez the story of Winston Smith in a totalitarian regime under the watchful eye of Big Brother.

This production brings George Orwell's novel to the stage in an adaptation written with Javier Sánchez-Collado, and is directed by Carlos Martínez-Abarca. The story unfolds in a dystopian world ruled by Big Brother, where the Party controls language, memory and even the privacy of its citizens. Winston Smith works at the Ministry of Truth, rewriting historical documents, but begins to question the system, secretly keeps a diary and falls in love with Julia, who shares his longing for freedom.

The production is conceived as a self-aware theatrical game. Four performers play Winston, Julia, O’Brien and the other characters around the protagonist, and the narrative unfolds in full view of the audience. The staging makes use of a space of rusted metal and damp, with a retro-futuristic aesthetic, and of devices created live by the performers, who interact with projections and audiovisual technology.

The core of the show is the clash between control, the yearning for freedom and rebellion. The production affirms the continued relevance of Orwell's text as a sensory and critical experience, and the audience is immersed in the climate of alienation that surrounds Winston.