Striking new stage adaptation of Orwell’s 1984 to premiere at The Edge

A striking new adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984 will premiere at The Edge Theatre & Arts Centre this April.

Reimagined for the stage by Greater Manchester-based collective Lost In Transit Theatre, the production runs in Chorlton from Tue 21 Apr – Sun 26 Apr.

The show marks the debut project for Lost In Transit, unveiling their brand of “disobedient storytelling”, reshaping iconic texts through thoughtful, ensemble-led performance.

70 years after its publication, 1984 remains one of the defining works of dystopian fiction. Set in a society ruled by constant surveillance, manipulated language and the ever-present figure of Big Brother, the story follows Winston Smith as he quietly rebels against a regime where independent thought is treated as a crime.

Lost In Transit Theatre’s new adaptation immerses the audience in the tale, asking how far a person can be pushed before betraying those they love. Through ensemble-led performance, inventive staging and a focus on audio-visual dynamism, the production explores the individual’s experience inside a totalitarian state.

Director Jonny Cordingley says the company was drawn to the novel because of how sharply it resonates today.

“What’s striking about 1984 today is that it no longer feels like distant dystopian fiction. With ideas of Thoughtcrime, Doublethink and Big Brother are now commonplace, our production looks beneath this and strips the narrative back to the human level. It’s often overlooked that at its core 1984 is a fantastic story, one in which Orwell masterfully creates the worst of worlds.

“Through this we are brought closer to what makes life worth living and find the threads of hope we need to connect as people.”

Book tickets to Lost In Transit Theatre’s 1984 at The Edge below.