National Theatre: 1984 dub // Egersund Culture House

«Thought crime», «Big Brother is watching you», «Cold War» and «2+2=5». The terms originate from George Orwell, the author of classics such as Animal Farm and 1984. In the turbulent 1930s and 40s, the British author became intensely concerned with exposing totalitarian systems and protecting the individual amidst a flood of political rhetoric and mass movements from the far left to the far right. Where is, and does, truth and freedom exist when ideological struggle takes over everything? Are we humans willing to do anything to gain or hold on to power – from falsifying our own history to reporting or canceling those closest to us? From another turbulent time, namely our own, director and playwright Tore Vagn Lid meets Orwell in a new musical performance that continues to play on his captivating and dangerous universe. Starting from the love story at the heart of the novel 1984, Vagn Lid moves through Orwell’s writings and out into our contemporary times. Here, it is no longer to the same extent that "The Party" and "Big Brother" are responsible for surveillance. In the age of algorithms and artificial intelligence, surveillance can be more about the art of monitoring oneself. On stage you will meet Trond Espen Seim, Jonas Strand Gravli, Maria Omarsdottir Austgulen, Torbjørn Berglund Eriksen, Hanna-Maria Grønneberg and Eirik Fosstveit. On stage Trond Espen Seim, Torbjørn Berglund Eriksen, Hanna-Maria Grønneberg, Maria Omarsdottir Austgulen, Jonas Strand Gravli and Eirik Hellerdal Fosstveit Team Playwright and Director: Tore Vagn Lid. Set designer: Kyrre Bjørkås. Lighting designer: Martin Myrvold. Costume designer: Charlotte Høyem Osburg. Sound designer: Glenn Erik Haugland. Graphics, model work: Julia Jayko Fossland. Producer: Silje Vigerust Vinjar By Tore Vagn Lid, loosely based on George Orwell. Performance length: 2 hours 20 minutes (including intermission).