by george orwell a new adaptation created by  and duncan macmillan

‘1984’ AUSTRALIAN CAST ANNOUNCED AS ORWELL’S NOVEL HITS 2017’S BEST SELLER LIST & BROADWAY SEASON ANNOUNCED for immediate release

George Orwell’s seminal novel 1984 is suddenly more relevant than ever and, in a stroke of synchronicity, the casting for the Australian tour of the West End Ambassador Theatre Group, GWB Entertainment & smash hit production has been announced on the same day that a Broadway state theatre company South season of the production has been confirmed. These announcements come as sales of Orwell’s book surge in the days since President Donald Trump took present the office in the US, with his office coining the phrase “alternative facts”. Headlong, Tom Conroy will play Winston in the Australian season starring alongside a cast Nottingham Playhouse & of some of Australia’s best stage actors. Paul Blackwell, Terence Crawford, production Ursula Mills, Renato Musolino, Guy O’Grady, Yalin Ozucelik and Fiona Press directed by will play major seasons in Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra Robert Icke & Duncan Macmillan and Perth over a four month period. Associate director (Australia) One of Australia’s actors on the rise and currently starring in Belvoir’s Corey McMahon production of Jasper Jones, Tom Conroy says that to play the lead role as Winston couldn’t be more relevant than now. designer Chloe Lamford

Tom Conroy said ‘I’m thrilled and, if I’m completely honest, a little nervous to lighting designer be stepping into the role of Winston Smith. He’s one of the 20th century’s great Natasha Chivers literary anti-heroes.’ sound designer Tom Gibbons ‘One of the things that I love about this adaptation is that Macmillan and Icke have beautifully created a complex character who goes on a tremendous video designer Tim Reid journey. I have an enormous amount of empathy for his frustration, wavering optimism, and determination to do something and be somebody. In today’s post- cast includes truth world, where ‘alternative facts’ are being openly used by the US state, I Paul Blackwell can’t think of a better play to have on our stages right now’ Conroy said. Tom Conroy Terence Crawford Ursula Mills The Olivier Award nominated production, featuring a much-lauded adaptation Renato Musolino and direction by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan, and produced by Guy O’Grady British theatre innovators Headlong, the Almeida Theatre and Nottingham Yalin Ozucelik Fiona Press Playhouse, has also been confirmed to open on Broadway in June with an American cast.

1984 has been a theatrical phenomenon and has been seen by over 400,000 more info: people worldwide, with three hugely successful seasons in the West End, www.1984play.com.au extensive UK and US touring and international festival appearances, including a totally sold-out season at the 2015 Melbourne Festival.

for media info contact lindsay ferris [email protected] or (08) 8415 5312 or 0405 046 116 by george orwell a new adaptation created by robert icke and duncan macmillan

‘1984’ AUSTRALIAN CAST ANNOUNCED AS ORWELL’S NOVEL HITS 2017’S BEST SELLER LIST & BROADWAY SEASON ANNOUNCED

Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan said ‘After the warm welcome our production received at the Melbourne Festival in 2015, we’re delighted that Ambassador Theatre Group, GWB Entertainment & it is returning to Australia. Even more now than last time we visited, Orwell’s state theatre company South dystopian vision of a surveilled and totalitarian world seems horribly relevant.’ Australia

Set in a world where an invasive government keeps a malevolently watchful present the eye on its citizens, the stage production of 1984 explores surveillance, identity Headlong, and why Orwell’s vision of the future is as relevant now as ever. It is a timely Nottingham Playhouse & reminder of the dangers posed by the digital age and society’s subconscious Almeida Theatre production cooperation in the invasion of our own privacy. directed by Published in 1949, 1984 is one of the most influential novels of all time, with Robert Icke & Duncan Macmillan its depiction of perpetual war, pervasive government tracking, mind control and the corruption of language and history. Its ideas have become our ideas, Associate director (Australia) and Orwell’s fiction is often said to be our reality. Many of the terms coined Corey McMahon by Orwell in the book have entered the English language, with the entity of Big Brother becoming one of the most iconic literary inventions and potent designer Chloe Lamford symbols of the 20th century. lighting designer Currently, the number 1 title on Amazon’s bestseller list, 1984 has sold more Natasha Chivers than 30 million copies worldwide. Interest in George Orwell’s novel has spiked in recent weeks following the use of the term ‘alternative facts’ by US sound designer Tom Gibbons President Donald Trump’s advisors where comparisons were made with the term ‘newspeak’ used in the 1984 novel. video designer Tim Reid The Australian tour is spearheaded by State Theatre Company South Australia, GWB Entertainment and Ambassador Theatre Group and involves cast includes partnerships with the Adelaide Festival Centre, Queensland Performing Paul Blackwell Arts Centre, , Canberra Theatre Centre and Perth Tom Conroy Terence Crawford Theatre Trust. Ursula Mills Renato Musolino Limelight Magazine, Australia The Guardian (UK) Guy O’Grady Yalin Ozucelik Fiona Press ‘Chilling, ingenious. 100 minutes. I urge you to see this stunning show’ The Observer (UK) more info: The Times (UK) www.1984play.com.au

The Daily Telegraph (UK) A work of extraordinary quality and intensity’ The Independent (UK)

for media info contact lindsay ferris [email protected] or (08) 8415 5312 or 0405 046 116 by george orwell a new adaptation created by robert icke and duncan macmillan

‘1984’ AUSTRALIAN CAST ANNOUNCED AS ORWELL’S NOVEL HITS 2017’S BEST SELLER LIST & BROADWAY SEASON ANNOUNCED

For more information on the tour or to book tickets visit www.1984play.com.au

ADELAIDE Venue: Her Majesty’s Theatre, Grote Street, Adelaide Season: 13 - 27 May 2017 Tickets: statetheatrecompany.com.au or 131 246 Media Enquiries: Lindsay Ferris, State Theatre Company E: [email protected] P: 0405 046 116

MELBOURNE Venue: The Comedy Theatre, Exhibition Street, Melbourne Season: 2 June - 10 June 2017 Previews: 31 May & 1 June Tickets: on sale Monday 12 December 2016 at www.1984play.com.au Media Enquiries: Tatia Sloley at TS Publicity E: [email protected] P: 0403 305 395

BRISBANE Venue: Lyric Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts Centre Season: 14 June - 18 June 2017 Tickets: on sale 12 December 2016 from www.qpac.com.au or 136 246 Media Enquiries: Cinnamon Watson, Cinnamon Watson Publicity E: [email protected] P: 0432 219 643

SYDNEY Venue: Sydney Theatre Company, Roslyn Packer Theatre - 22 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay Season: 28 June – 22 July 2017 Tickets on sale 13 Feb 2017 from Box Office (02) 9250 1777 or www.sydneytheatre.com.au Media Enquiries: Katherine Stevenson, Sydney Theatre Company E: [email protected] P: 0488 400 102

CANBERRA Venue: Canberra Theatre, Canberra Theatre Centre Season: 25 – 29 July, 2017 Tickets: canberratheatrecentre.com.au or Box Office on (02) 6275 2700 Media Enquiries, Gabrielle Affleck, Canberra Theatre Centre E: [email protected] P: 0435 624 272

PERTH Venue: His Majesty’s Theatre Season: 4 August – 13 August 2017 Tickets on sale from 9am (AWST) 12 December 2016 from ticketek.com.au Media Enquiries: Lynne Burford, Lynne Burford Publicity E: [email protected] P: 0417 921 038