{"id":852168,"date":"2026-03-26T18:59:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T18:59:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/852168\/"},"modified":"2026-03-26T18:59:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T18:59:18","slug":"contemporary-adaptation-of-orwells-classic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/852168\/","title":{"rendered":"Contemporary adaptation of Orwell’s classic"},"content":{"rendered":"

– Advertisement –\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Author George Orwell warns about surveillance in his classic novel, 1984.<\/p>\n

Fast forward to now, some would argue that\u2019s still apparent today. It\u2019s a part of our daily lives. His world no longer feels as dystopian as it once did when it was first published in 1949.<\/p>\n

But through a contemporary lens, this fascinating piece of fiction still has the power to invoke many a debate.\u00a0<\/p>\n

1984 at the Edge theatre<\/p>\n

\"JonnyJonny Cordingley<\/p>\n

It is now headed to the stage<\/a> in a new adaptation by local theatre company Lost in Transit. Starring Rupert Hill, who regularly treads the boards in Manchester.<\/p>\n

I Love Manchester caught up with director and company founder, Jonny Cordingly to find out more.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIn many ways, 1984 is a warning, but that also means there\u2019s hope, right, or why warn anyone?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Why does he feel that 1984 remains relevant to audiences? He ponders the question and then says: \u201cI think first and foremost great stories stand the test of time, and act as a mirror to the world your own story is in.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd 1984 seems to fill the shape of any time it\u2019s being read, or watched.\u201d He then adds, \u201cI also think it makes us ask some of the big questions.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike what kind of world do we want to live in? How do we want to leave it for who\u2019s next? In many ways, 1984 is a warning, but that also means there\u2019s hope, right, or why warn anyone?\u201d<\/p>\n

What are the challenges in adapting a piece like this for the stage?<\/p>\n

The novel is so highly respected, so what are the challenges in adapting a piece like this to the stage?<\/p>\n

He told us, \u201cWe have been developing this adaptation with the amazing writer Peter Kerry, who has done much of the heavy lifting when it comes to the challenges of the piece. There are so many amazing images Orwell conjures, I think one of the challenges is shifting the space to let the audience into Winston\u2019s stormy mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many people who have read the book may be thinking what\u2019s in it for me, and there will also be newcomers. So, what does Jonny hope that audiences will get from this revival?<\/p>\n

He smiles and says, \u201cBelieve it or not, fun! This is theatre, and we want to take you for a wild ride. <\/p>\n

\u201cBut I also hope people receive that at its most fundamental, it\u2019s a story about human connection, a love story, or maybe more honestly a (human need for) love story.\u201d<\/p>\n

The role of the director<\/p>\n

What about Orwell\u2019s predictions? Does he think we have given in to the idea that we are being watched? He says \u201cmaybe,\u201d and then pauses and begins again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m stubborn, so I like to believe not. There\u2019s no doubting Orwell was so ahead of his time when it comes to surveillance. But I think more than this, he invites us to ask further questions like: Who is watching? Why? And who owns all the stuff?\u201d<\/p>\n

As a director, how do you know when you have got it right, or feel a sense of pride? Jonny says: \u201cI don\u2019t really believe that there\u2019s a right or wrong when directing. I think different choices have different qualities, like different keys in music. It\u2019s a question of what qualities we are reaching for in each moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

He adds: \u201cI\u2019m also lucky I\u2019m working with an incredible creative company of actors and creatives, all of whom co-create with me. That\u2019s when I feel a sense of pride, when we are all making as a company, as Lost In Transit.\u201d<\/p>\n

What is it about Manchester?<\/p>\n

1984 is headed to Chorlton, so what are his thoughts on Manchester. Is there anything he would change about this city?<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI\u2019m a very proud Mancunian\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He says: \u201cI\u2018m from this city, I love this city. I love that it\u2019s unashamed and unapologetic, but most of all I love the people. <\/p>\n

\u201cSpeaking of which, we would\u2019ve never been able to get this show off the ground without our amazing cast and creatives, and working in association with The Edge theatre in Chorlton. The beer\u2019s very nice there too.\u201d He pauses and reflects. \u201cSo, what would I change? Honestly? Nothing.. I\u2019m a very proud Mancunian.\u201d<\/p>\n

Get your tickets<\/p>\n

1984 is at the Edge theatre<\/a> in Chorlton from 21-26 April. It then tours to Rochdale and Sheffield.<\/p>\n

To book tickets at the Edge, please click here.<\/a><\/p>\n

– Advertisement –\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"– Advertisement – Author George Orwell warns about surveillance in his classic novel, 1984. Fast forward to now,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":852169,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8813],"tags":[748,8832,243088,393,4884,2465,2764,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-852168","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-manchester","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-chorlton","10":"tag-edge-theatre","11":"tag-england","12":"tag-great-britain","13":"tag-manchester","14":"tag-theatre","15":"tag-uk","16":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116297018034907319","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/852168","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=852168"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/852168\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/852169"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=852168"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=852168"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=852168"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}