THE RENDITION MEETS JUDE AKUWUDIKE
George Orwell is prominent on for his contributions dystopian fiction, notably his work ‘1984’. The novel explores the intricacies of life under a totalitarian regime, with central themes such as cenceronship, freedom and propaganda. At the core of the novel is idea of ‘Big Brothers’ control and surveillance, a focal point in this adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984.
Directed by Richard Hahlo and Jem Wall, Hackney Town Hall has been transformed into The Ministry of Truth. Here, “everything you say or do is scrutinised… your innermost thoughts are probed and you cannot be too careful.” Audiences are invited to immerse themselves in this unique experience at the town hall, where they are provided a fresh perspective on Orwell’s dystopian vision by actively participating in the action as it unfolds across various locations within the venue.
In our conversation with Jude Akuwudike who takes on the role of O’Brien, we discuss the rehearsal process for this immersive play, as well as the current relevance of Orwells writing.
“1984 is so relevant and I haven’t touched the tip of it. ”
QUESTION: How are rehearsals going?
Jude Akuwudike: They're unusual rehearsals because it’s not a theatre production; it’s a site specific play which means it’s in a non-theatre place. In our case, it’s Hackney Town Hall.
There are a lot of different spaces in the old Hackney Town Hall, and obviously because it’s a functioning town hall, there are weddings going on, there are citizenship ceremonies going on and the rest of it. Our access to the space is restricted, the normal activities of the town hall take precedence. We get strange pockets of time to do what we need to do, so it’s not usual and it takes getting used to but that’s part of the excitement of being able to do a show in what they call a site specific venue.
QUESTION: What has it been rehearsing for 1984?
Jude Akuwudike: It’s been quite an intimate affair; quite smooth, fun and exploratory. It has been an interesting session, the rehearsals leading up to this production week where the serious business begins to happen.
The building is beautiful, the kind of period is in keeping with how George Orwell envisaged… The place is bubbling up as the ministry of truth, and I suppose the rooms kind of play as a recruitment day. You are trying to bring an enrolment day into the Ministry of Truth.
The minute the audience comes in, they are immersed into the ministry of truth. We have a big ensemble of actors who are the ministry officers and they are engaged in making them feel at home, patrolling their movements and helping where they can.They (the audience) take a test, they are the candidates of the ministry of truth as they discover. It’s not following the full narrative of the book 1984, although some of it is followed. It is trying to encapsulate the whole spirit of 1948 in this enrolment day which O’Brien is the centre of.
QUESTION: How does the current setting (Hackney Town Hall) play into the story you are trying to tell?
Jude Akuwudike: The setting of a town hall as a governmental institution, it is a palace where civil servants work, where the normal routine of local governments happen. You register your child, deaths, marriage, citizenships and the rest of it.
It is a big arm of the government. In 1984, what we are talking about is a more centralised building of huge scale, but we are using such a building to stand for the ministry of truth and I think quite effectively. It’s hoped that the experience isn’t just as you would have in going to the theatre, sitting down watching a play. But actually, it’s more an event in which you are taking part. The themes of 1984, tie well into the building that is being used for 1984.
QUESTION: How relevant do you think the themes of the play are in today's world?
Jude Akuwudike: Absolutely totally, I have no question.
The big thing about the regime in 1984 is about control with information, data and that is a big theme in our world today. In fact there is so much information on everyone of us harvested for business, so advertising can be honed in on the individual, probably at a time where they feel like the person is most susceptible and that is a theme that is shared with 1984 completely.
It is after information, for control. Every household has members of the outer party which is the mechanism for how everything works, they are the executive class, the middle class if you like, - every home has a telescreen. A tele screen from which they are being watched. Big brother is watching you, that is what that is about. Today, we have that telescreen in the palm of our hands.
The use of war, they are in perpetual war and they manipulate and propagandise who the enemy is, although it’s shifting all the time in order to keep control. The putting out of information to shape opinions and to shape support and so on.
“(The year) 1984 comes, and then the electronics revolution comes and you think ‘1984 is so yesterday’. You start reading the novel again and you go “ah”! In 1984 there was a novel writing machine, how close is that to artificial intelligence....”
QUESTION: Tell me about your character, what is his motivation and how do you relate to him?
Jude Akuwudike: I can talk about the character from the point of view of the character or from the point of view of Jude.
From the point of view of the character, he would be an advocate of himself, he would not say he was evil, he would say he was doing something else. O'Brien is a senior member of the inner party, who is described as brutal looking but has the manners of something gentle. He has a few sort of mannerisms which Winston (the hero) feels like there is humanity in this man. Winston believes that O’Brien is part of the movement trying to overthrow the totalitarian, inhuman state…. He couldn't be more wrong.
From my point of view, it’s enjoyable to play because he is highly educated, he knows many things and perhaps along the line he has swallowed the hook line and sinker the whole ideology of Oceania. He enjoys wielding the power and doesn't want to relinquish that power or have it vested from his fellows, his clarks, or his friends. He wants to keep the status quo. He is a leader with incredible leadership qualities, he has status and people act on his slightest well. He obviously has a lot of charisma, however, underneath everything; he is willing to do anything to keep the status quo and that is where the inhumanity lies.
QUESTION: You mention the problem of power quite a bit, tell me more about that?
Jude Akuwudike: I suppose the big thing of 1984 is about questioning power, of course the person that questions it like Winston becomes a crop.
It’s almost the same thing that Harold Pinter insists on; we have a responsibility to find out as much as we can about how we are being ruled, to educate ourselves and to question the decisions made on our behalf, otherwise power will be completely rested from us and power will be put into the hands of people who will abuse us.
QUESTION: What do you want the audience to take away?
Jude Akuwudike: An evening where they feel they have entered a world that prompts them to do precisely what the novel asks us to question. The things around you, the power around you - the rule of your country, the rule of you and claim your own right to all the things that we hold dear… your own right to that power.
QUESTION: Last question, describe the play in one sentence.
Jude Akuwudike: Big brother is still alive.
1984 (immersive) is will be takin place at Hackney Town Hall until 17th December.
