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1984

Theatre

Off-West End

Playhouse Theatre

Until Sat Aug 23

  • © Manuel Harlan

    Sam Crane

  • © Manuel Harlan

    Stephen Fewell

  • © Manuel Harlan

    Christopher Patrick Nolan

  • © Manuel Harlan

  • © Manuel Harlan

    Hara Yannas (Julia)

  • © Manuel Harlan

    Tim Dutton (O'Brien) and Mark Arends (Winston Smith)

  • © Tristram Kenton

  • © Tristram Kenton

    Christopher Patrick Nolan, Richard Bremmer, Harra Yannas, Tim Dutton & Mark Arends

  • © Tristram Kenton

    Mark Arends (Winston)

  • © Tristram Kenton

    Mark Arends (Winston) & Hara Yannas (Julia)

  • © Tristram Kenton

    Stephen Fewell, Tim Dutton, Mark Arends, Matthew Spencer & Mandi Symonds

  • © Tristram Kenton

    Stephen Fewell (Charrington)

  • © Tristram Kenton

    Matthew Spencer (Syme), Mark Arends (Winston) & Mandi Symonds (Mrs Parsons)

  • © Tristram Kenton

    Mark Arends (Winston) & Hara Yannas (Julia)

© Manuel Harlan

Sam Crane

Time Out rating:

<strong>Rating: </strong><span class='lf-avgRating'>5</span>/5

User ratings:

<strong>Rating: </strong><span class='lf-avgRating'>3</span>/5
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  • Categories:

    Theatre. Drama. Off-West End

1984 2014

Users say

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<strong>Rating: </strong><span class='lf-avgRating'>0</span>/5

Average User Rating

3.8 / 5

Rating Breakdown

  • 5 star:5
  • 4 star:6
  • 3 star:1
  • 2 star:2
  • 1 star:1
LiveReviews|15
9 people listening
cath_hope

Incredibly intense, and a stunning sensory experience. Standout performances from Sam Crane and Tim Dutton. Watch it and weep.

Bella M

Just awful. First half I kept dozing off it was such a bore that made no sense what so ever. Then when it got loud and violent I stayed awake and still was confused and bored withe tbire concept. No idea what play was about. Very graphic.

david d

Picked up a day ticket for a tenner, front row. Fantastically staged, weird no doubt, but great acting and very in your face, and thank god no singing!

benji b

Never read the book, thought it was tedious, boring and confusing at parts. Well staged and acted but if you haven't read the book you will find it hard to understand what is going on.

Martin C

Still brilliant and better than at the Almeida. Sam Crane is a fantastic Winston, where the bloke they had before felt a bit mechanical. A life changing evening of theatre. 

The Man on the Street

Got out of the theatre this evening and rang my 18 year old son to tell him to see this show. Its 101 minutes with no interval. Its gripping, thought provoking, visually stunning and (for me at least) so much better than most shows in town. 


Good adaptation of a difficult book to deliver on the stage, which ultimately transfers well (2 minutes hate and Room 101 in particular). The lighting and the sound create the atmosphere needed. Don't need to have read the book to enjoy it. Recommended. 


N.B Upper circle tickets are slightly restricted view, with the screen cut off slightly. This doesn't have much of an impact though, as the stage is still in full view.

DLondon

Tries to be very clever, but fails at many of the basics in the process. Underpowered performances, lacklustre direction and a messy script.

Colin

A dreadful mess. Confused, sensationalist and pretentious, The only good thing was it made me want to have a look at the book again. In fact, before long I was wishing I was curled up at home reading it rather than watching this clunking production.

Joanne

Possibly one of the best plays I have seen in London. Loved the staging, the acting, the story.

Kate Janoskova

Have you read 1984? I bet you have, but if you can find someone who hasn't, I'd like to know what they thought about the play. Of course, you know what is in room 101, but that doesn't make it any less terrifying, especially when *spoilers* Winston makes a plea to the audience to help him. *end of spoilers*. The two minutes hate is as powerful as anything I have seen on stage. Excellent production, maybe a tad bit slow going at the beginning, but that is not diminishing to how it hopeless and futile it makes you feel by the time the last words are spoken.