1984

shake & stir established their credentials, especially with secondary schools, after Statespeare  premiered at La Boite in early 2011and undertook a four month tour with matinees and evening performances. Later that year Animal Farm won further acclaim, so it wasn’t surprisingthat all 26 performances of their1984 premiere (Cremorne Theatre, 2012) sold out a week before the first preview.

This year they took 1984 on the road for five months to 30 towns and cities all the way down the eastern states (including Tasmania), breaking records everywhere they went. This is their triumphant homecoming!

I recommend it wholeheartedly, if you can get seats for this final season.

The multi-talented young company principals, Nelle Lee, Nick Skubij and Ross Balbuziente are blessed with astute business acumen. They stayed with their successful cast members (themselves included) and master dramaturg and director, Michael Futcher, and worked with their own triple-threat of creatives: Josh McIntosh (designer), Jason Glenwright (lighting designer) and Guy Webster (sound designer), augmented this time with media producers Optical Bloc to cope with the twelve massive plasma screens, which play as major a part in the production as regular lead, Bryan Probets, as Winston. Masterful casting there: slight build, gaunt, and vocal virtuoso (a critical gift for this play). David Whitney (as O’Brien) completes the cast.

Be prepared to feel uncomfortable for the roving spot that scans you in the audience; and also to suffer agony with Winston under the shock treatment to convert him to the government’s will.

Jay McKee

Images: Ross Balbuziente and Bryan Probets & Nelle Lee and Bryan Probets.

Photographer: Dylan Evans