Matthew Lenton Brings Orwell's 1984 to the Stage in Modena

Matthew Lenton directed a theatrical adaptation of George Orwell's 1984, commissioned by Emilia Romagna Teatro Fondazione and performed by a cast of young Italian actors at Teatro Storchi in Modena in 2018. The production, adapted and translated with Martina Folena, focuses on the human emotions of the characters—love, betrayal, cruelty—rather than solely the political aspects. The set design by Guia Guzzi uses neon tubes to create the illusion of three screens, with a monitor displaying the eye of Big Brother. A narrator, a woman who moves in and out of the action, connects the characters' stories and intimate thoughts. The atmosphere is dark, with warm lights and police torches searching the audience, accompanied by sounds that heighten tension. However, the tension does not sustain throughout the performance, and the acting, while competent, lacks full expressive cohesion, especially the lead actor. The play addresses themes of social media, privacy violation, censorship, and media monopoly, as anticipated by Orwell's 1949 novel.