This March, Teatru Manoel, presents a new production of George Orwell's dystopian classic 1984 as part of TOI TOI Classics. Directed by Petra Sant, this award-winning production by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan, is an interpretation of the novel that is widely praised for its emotional impact and contemporary relevance.

First staged at Nottingham Playhouse in 2013 before transferring to the West End and Broadway, Icke and Macmillan's adaptation reimagines the novel through an intensely theatrical lens. In this version of 1984, the audience is drawn into a society ruled by fear, where language is weaponised, history is rewritten, and loyalty to 'the Party' is enforced through relentless surveillance. Central themes such as the manipulation of truth, the fragility of personal identity, and the dangers of absolute power are brought sharply into focus, while the contemporary staging intentionally blurs the boundaries between past and present. The result is a chilling production that immerses the audience into the very heart of the unfolding drama.

Set in a world where the totalitarian leader Big Brother is omnipresent, 1984 explores themes of constant surveillance, political repression and the distortion of truth. Reminiscent of phrases like "alternative facts" and "fake news", the play evokes a mistrust of reality and fiction, between the world today and an unimaginable future. The protagonist Winston Smith, portrayed by Edward Caruana Galizia, dares to question the authoritarian regime that governs every aspect of life. His rebellion, however, comes at a cost in a society where independent thought is treated as a crime.

TOI TOI Classics forms part of Teatru Manoel's TOI TOI Learning and Participation Programme. In an age dominated by digital technology and misinformation, 1984 remains a strikingly timely work that speaks to audiences of all generations. Can the question be asked: are we living in the world Orwell himself predicted?

Alongside Caruana Galizia, the cast includes Alan Paris, Tina Rizzo and Stephen Oliver, with supporting performances by Nicholas Jackman, Naomi Scicluna, Brendon Thearle, Carla Abela and Alex Weenink. Adrian Mamo has designed the production's set, lighting design is by Gianluca Bianco, with additional visual content created by Dylan Odom and sound design by Sergio Costa.

TOI TOI's 1984 runs from Friday 6 March to Sunday 8 March, and again the following weekend on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 March, at Teatru Manoel. This production contains flashing lights, strobe effects, loud noises, gunshots, and graphic depictions of violence and torture. It is not suitable for children under 14. Tickets are available online via the Teatru Manoel website (https://teatrumanoel.mt/event/1984/ ) or from the Box Office, in person or by phone on (+356) 2124 6389.