1984 by George Orwell adapted for the stage by Michael Gene Sullivan

(25)
Productions (21)
Drama
1 W, 5 M, 
Content Notes: Contains adult language and content.

Inquiries regarding performance rights should be addressed to: Florence Rees, A.M Heath & Co. Ltd, 6 Warwick Court, Holborn, London, WC1R 5DJ, +44 (0) 207 242 2811, [email protected]
Set: Minimal.

Based on the iconic novel by George Orwell, 1984 brings us the story of Winston Smith, a cog in the giant machine state of Oceania. Physically and mentally under the omnipresent eye of Big Brother, Winston has been caught struggling for scraps of love and freedom in a world awash with distrust and violence. With the brutal "help" of four Party Members, Winston is forced to confess his Thoughtcrimes before an unseen inquisitor, and the audience -- which acts as a silent witness to his torture. A ferocious and provocative adaptation of one of the most prescient works of literature of the last century.

Pricing Information

Standard Edition $13.99
eScript Digital Edition $17.5
Stage Manager Edition $24.99
NOTE: Inquiries regarding performance rights should be addressed to: Florence Rees, A.M Heath & Co. Ltd, 6 Warwick Court, Holborn, London, WC1R 5DJ, +44 (0) 207 242 2811, [email protected]

eScript Digital editions when purchased as a retail item cannot be printed or downloaded. They are for reading on personal computer, or tablet devices (phones, iPads, Kobo, Sony, etc.). It can viewed on up to 5 individual devices. When an escript is purchased as part of a license, please email [email protected] to receive your printable PDF.

Play Details

Based on the iconic novel by George Orwell, 1984 brings us the story of Winston Smith, a cog in the giant machine state of Oceania. Physically and mentally under the omnipresent eye of Big Brother, Winston has been caught struggling for scraps of love and freedom in a world awash with distrust and violence. With the brutal "help" of four Party Members, Winston is forced to confess his Thoughtcrimes before an unseen inquisitor, and the audience -- which acts as a silent witness to his torture. A ferocious and provocative adaptation of one of the most prescient works of literature of the last century.

Note: Author-approved changes to update the play's setting (PDF) Note: Author-approved edits for schools (PDF)

  • Drama

Published Reviews

"Sullivan does an exemplary job of distilling 1984's political essence...to clear a path for its trenchant, and still sadly undated, critique."

Los Angeles Times

"[The play] is a harrowing experience... Sad as it is to say, [Orwell] would find himself right at home and sick to heart..."

The Daily Breeze

"This is not your father's George Orwell."

DailyBulletin.com

"You don't just watch to observe, you become implicated -- as if sitting at Orwell's two-way telescreen to watch how long it takes Big Brother to break a man."

World Socialist Web Site

"Sullivan's adaptation subtly infuses the work with modern political rhetoric and smart dialogue."

Los Angeles Alternative

"This version of 1984 effectively argues that Orwell's messages remain as relevant as they were in 1949, perhaps even more so."

Los Angeles Downtown News

"Riveting, frightening, and provocative."

Deseret News (Salt Lake City)

"Brilliant."

Arianna Huffington

"Sullivan has boiled down the book's 300 pages to a scant 100 minutes, culling the story's political essentials while retaining the melancholy whimsy of it's hero's life."

LA Weekly

"This Michael Gene Sullivan adaptation of George Orwell's classic 1984 is multi-layered, intense and disturbing -- exactly how it should be."

The South China Morning Post

"Sullivan's adaptation of 1984 is a chilling reminder that some of the political excesses set forth in George Orwell's novel are painfully evident in today's increasingly monopolistic media."

Melinda Schupmann, Backstage

Production History

MAR 23, 2017 - APR 23, 2017
Williamston Theatre
Williamston, MI United States
Williamston Theatre Williamston, MI United States
DEC 12, 2016 - DEC 11, 2016
University Of Missouri
St. Louis, MI United States
University Of Missouri St. Louis, MI United States
NOV 02, 2016 - NOV 14, 2016
MidCity Productions
Queens, NY United States
MidCity Productions Queens, NY United States
NOV 02, 2016 - NOV 14, 2016
Montevallo Main Street Players
Montevallo, AL United States
Montevallo Main Street Players Montevallo, AL United States
SEP 08, 2016 - SEP 17, 2016
The Actors' Gang
Los Angeles, CA United States
The Actors' Gang Los Angeles, CA United States
JUL 02, 2016 - JUL 05, 2016
The Actors' Gang at the Spoleto Festival
Spoleto, Italy
The Actors' Gang at the Spoleto Festival Spoleto, Italy
APR 21, 2016 - APR 23, 2016
Rowen University
Camden, NY United States
Rowen University Camden, NY United States
APR 01, 2016 - APR 11, 2016
Hardin Country Schools
Elizabethtown, KY United States
Hardin Country Schools Elizabethtown, KY United States
MAR 31, 2016 - APR 16, 2016
The Actors' Gang
Los Angeles, CA United States
The Actors' Gang Los Angeles, CA United States
MAR 31, 2016 - APR 24, 2016
Barter Theater
Abingdon, VA United States
Barter Theater Abingdon, VA United States
NOV 15, 2015 - NOV 25, 2015
University of Illinois
Urbana, IL United States
University of Illinois Urbana, IL United States
OCT 16, 2015 - OCT 24, 2015
Dreamwell Theatre
Iowa City, IA United States
Dreamwell Theatre Iowa City, IA United States
FEB 05, 2015 - FEB 21, 2015
Bad Example Productions
Milwaukee, WI United States
Bad Example Productions Milwaukee, WI United States
OCT 17, 2014 - OCT 26, 2014
Theatre Pro Rata
Minneapolis, MN United States
Theatre Pro Rata Minneapolis, MN United States
MAR 28, 2014 - MAR 30, 2014
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA United States
Brandeis University Waltham, MA United States
MAR 09, 2014 - MAR 19, 2014
Balagula Theatre
Lexington, KY United States
Balagula Theatre Lexington, KY United States
DEC 18, 2013 - JAN 12, 2014
Gataro Productions at Almeria Theatre
Barcelona, Spain
Gataro Productions at Almeria Theatre Barcelona, Spain
OCT 11, 2013 - OCT 20, 2013
Goldwest College
Huntington Beach, CA United States
Goldwest College Huntington Beach, CA United States
JUN 20, 2013 - JUN 29, 2013
Motherwell College
Glasgow, Scotland
Motherwell College Glasgow, Scotland
MAR 01, 2012 - MAR 17, 2012
Bad Example Productions
Milwaukee, WI United States
Bad Example Productions Milwaukee, WI United States
JAN 01, 2011 - DEC 31, 2011
The Actors' Gang 30th Anniversary Season
Los Angeles, CA United States
The Actors' Gang 30th Anniversary Season Los Angeles, CA United States
No upcoming productions.
MAR 23, 2017 - APR 23, 2017
Williamston Theatre
Williamston, MI United States
Williamston Theatre Williamston, MI United States
NOV 02, 2016 - NOV 14, 2016
MidCity Productions
Queens, NY United States
MidCity Productions Queens, NY United States
SEP 08, 2016 - SEP 17, 2016
The Actors' Gang
Los Angeles, CA United States
The Actors' Gang Los Angeles, CA United States
JUL 02, 2016 - JUL 05, 2016
The Actors' Gang at the Spoleto Festival
Spoleto, Italy
The Actors' Gang at the Spoleto Festival Spoleto, Italy
MAR 31, 2016 - APR 16, 2016
The Actors' Gang
Los Angeles, CA United States
The Actors' Gang Los Angeles, CA United States
MAR 31, 2016 - APR 24, 2016
Barter Theater
Abingdon, VA United States
Barter Theater Abingdon, VA United States
OCT 16, 2015 - OCT 24, 2015
Dreamwell Theatre
Iowa City, IA United States
Dreamwell Theatre Iowa City, IA United States
OCT 17, 2014 - OCT 26, 2014
Theatre Pro Rata
Minneapolis, MN United States
Theatre Pro Rata Minneapolis, MN United States
MAR 09, 2014 - MAR 19, 2014
Balagula Theatre
Lexington, KY United States
Balagula Theatre Lexington, KY United States
DEC 18, 2013 - JAN 12, 2014
Gataro Productions at Almeria Theatre
Barcelona, Spain
Gataro Productions at Almeria Theatre Barcelona, Spain
MAR 01, 2012 - MAR 17, 2012
Bad Example Productions
Milwaukee, WI United States
Bad Example Productions Milwaukee, WI United States
JAN 01, 2011 - DEC 31, 2011
The Actors' Gang 30th Anniversary Season
Los Angeles, CA United States
The Actors' Gang 30th Anniversary Season Los Angeles, CA United States

eScript Details

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