George Orwell’s 1984 comes to Dundee Rep in powerful new adaptation
One of the most famous dystopian novels ever written is coming to the Dundee Rep stage, with a powerful new adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984 opening this week.
Running from tomorrow (Wednesday 30 September) until Saturday 10 October, the production brings Orwell’s terrifying vision of a society dominated by surveillance, propaganda and the destruction of truth to the stage in 2026.
And more than 75 years after the novel was first published, its themes remain strikingly relevant.
Big Brother is watching you
Adapted by playwright Chris Hannan, the production transports audiences into the controlled world of Orwell’s Oceania – where Big Brother is always watching, the Thought Police monitor what people say and even children are encouraged to spy on their parents.
At the centre of the story is Winston Smith, who quietly begins to question the world around him and the absolute authority of the Party.
When Winston begins a forbidden love affair with Julia, their relationship becomes an act of rebellion.
Together, they attempt to hold onto their individuality and humanity in a society where independent thought itself has become a crime.
But challenging the Party comes with terrifying consequences.
Orwell’s dystopian world brought to life
First published in 1949, Nineteen Eighty-Four has become one of the most influential novels of the 20th century.
Ideas and phrases created by Orwell – including Big Brother, the Thought Police, doublethink and Room 101 – have become embedded in popular culture and political language around the world.
This new adaptation brings Winston and Julia’s battle against the Party to life on stage, exploring a world built around fear, control and the manipulation of reality.
The production also asks audiences to consider Orwell’s story through the lens of the modern world, with Dundee Rep describing its vision of a “post-truth world of ‘alternative facts’” as particularly relevant in 2026.
When is 1984 at Dundee Rep?
1984 runs at Dundee Rep from Wednesday 30 September until Saturday 10 October 2026, with tickets available from £15.
The production runs for approximately two hours and 30 minutes, including an interval, and is recommended for audiences aged 14 and over.
An Audio Described performance will take place on Friday 9 October at 7.30pm, provided by Christopher McKiddie.
A BSL Interpreted performance will follow on Saturday 10 October at 2.30pm, provided by Yvonne Waddell and Jackie McDonald.
Audiences should be aware that the production contains distressing themes, including scenes of physical violence and torture, references to sexual violence and suicide, as well as loud sound effects, flashing lights and blackouts throughout.
With one of literature’s most famous dystopian worlds taking over the Dundee Rep stage, 1984 promises to bring Orwell’s unsettling story of surveillance, truth and resistance vividly to life for a new audience.
Buy your tickets to 1984 now
You can purchase tickets to 1984 at the Dundee Rep now through their website at https://dundeerep.co.uk/events/1984
