Julia 1984 is a bold reimagining of George Orwell’s 1984, with themes of surveillance, power, and personal betrayal. Set against a sparse but meticulously designed backdrop—a shadowy room split by slatted lighting and an ever-watching eye projected onto a screen—the staging evokes a world where surveillance and suspicion seep into every corner.

The magnetic performances of the two leads—Julia and O’Brien—are the key to the success of this play. O’Brien exudes menace from his every pore and Julia, initially defiant but vulnerable, undergoes a staggering transformation that is the emotional and political heart of the show. Their physical tussles when Julia is resisting indoctrination are hot, sweaty, and entirely believable.

This reinterpretation feels frighteningly relevant, especially in a world increasingly defined by digital surveillance and questionable morality. The end-of-show announcement that the cast hails from Slavic states where free speech is under threat, casts the production in a sobering new light. This is not just dystopian fiction—it’s political theatre drawn from lived experience.

Julia 1984 is a sharp, urgent piece of theatre: gripping, intelligent, and devastating in its final moments. As it’s only on until the 11th I urge you to book your tickets now – you won’t be disappointed.

****1/2

Reviewed by Rona