2084

Embark on a digital adventure through an innovative 21st Century reimagining of George Orwell’s 1984

About the Production

2084 is an innovative 21st Century reimagining of George Orwell’s 1984 that takes advantage of the remote environment to create a world where citizens are permanently monitored through video. Devised by a group of ten artists spanning seven countries, the piece explores the usage of different digital mediums in storytelling, including Instagram and Whatsapp in tandem with recorded theatrical performance. It tackles the challenge of creating cohesive spaces in cross-border digital theater-making and continues to push the boundaries of what the online space can offer.

In a world where power, technology, and control of information are at the forefront of our minds, 2084 investigates what freedom and individual identity mean when people are placed under constant surveillance and a rigid social hierarchy. This theatrical experience asks audiences to navigate a world of propaganda, state broadcasts, fake news, and rewritten histories, isolated in their homes but with the knowledge of a collective experience.

The show draws from Orwell’s novel, placing its ideas in the 21st century and using it as a lens to explore how technology, the pandemic, and 70 years of societal development have changed the probability and possibility of Orwell’s dystopia. 2084 establishes a dystopian world in which technology, corporations, and a draconian government rule with an iron fist, using big data, censorship, and psychological manipulation to control information and history.

Work-in-Progress Showcase

2084 held an online work-in-progress showing on January 22 and 23, 2022, following three months of devised work with a cross-border team of 10 artists.

It was directed by Ethan David Lee and stage managed by Tan Tzy Jiun and Kevin Ke. The devising performers included Aya Afaneh, Ahmed Ashour, Shalini Corea, Kevin Ke, Cassidy Kepp, Shebi Niazi, Carlos Paez, and Zubin Vincent.