1984 – by Robert Icke and Duncan MacMillan based on the novel by George Orwell. 

The production will be directed by Brooke Lipman.

Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan’s stage adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984 transforms the classic dystopian novel into a gripping theatrical experience that explores surveillance, truth, and psychological control. Framed as a group of historians in the future attempting to reconstruct the past, the play follows Winston Smith as he begins to question the totalitarian regime of Big Brother. Through his forbidden relationship with Julia and his secret acts of rebellion, Winston searches for truth and personal freedom in a world where language, memory, and reality are constantly manipulated by the Party. 

The production is known for its intense staging, multimedia elements, and unsettling atmosphere, which mirror the novel’s themes of paranoia and state power. As Winston is drawn deeper into resistance, the audience witnesses the terrifying reach of the regime and the devastating consequences of dissent. Icke and Macmillan’s adaptation emphasizes the fragility of truth and the dangers of authoritarian control, making Orwell’s warning feel urgent and relevant to contemporary audiences. 

Auditions will be held at St. Ursula’s Church, Jubiläumsplatz 2 in Bern on: 

• Tuesday, May 5, 18:00 – 21:00 
• Thursday, May 7, 18:00 – 21:00 
• Saturday, May 9, 15:00 – 18:00 

If you are not available on these audition dates, you can note this on the sign up form below and the directors will get in touch with you to try and arrange a separate audition. 

Please read carefully the AUDITION INFORMATION below before signing up. 

We are looking forward to your audition! 

AUDITION INFORMATION 

Preparation for the Audition

• prepare 1 minute monologue of your own choice
• You do not need to prepare a monologue from the play. If you would like to receive a copy of the play script, please write to upstage_director@upstage.ch
• Please learn the monologues by heart beforehand so you don’t have to be focused on reading during the audition 

Dates and Availability 

Rehearsals: rehearsals will begin towards the end of May and be held twice weekly on Tuesday and Thursday evenings (18:30/19:00 – 21:00) with a break from July 7th through August 18th. There may be some weekend rehearsals towards the end of the rehearsal period. 

The detailed rehearsal schedule will be created after the casting and you will be expected to attend all the rehearsals for your role. 

Production Dates: you must be available for the move-in, dress rehearsals and production dates: 

• Theatre move-in, tech rehearsal, first rehearsals in the theatre (exact dates still to be set): Saturday, Nov 14- Tuesday Nov 17, 2026 
• Dress rehearsal with school attendance: Wednesday, Nov 18, 2026. 
• Production run 1st week: Friday, Nov 20 – Sunday, Nov 22, 2026 
• Production run 2nd week: Thursday, Nov 26 – Sunday, Nov 29, 2026 
• Production run 3rd week: Thursday, Dec 3 – Saturday, Dec 5, 2026 

Characters and Roles 

Winston Smith (male, 30s–40s) A quiet, introspective clerk working at the Ministry of Truth. Winston secretly questions the Party’s control over reality and longs for freedom, truth, and genuine human connection. His small acts of rebellion place him in direct conflict with the totalitarian regime. 

Julia (female, 20s–30s) Bold, pragmatic, and rebellious in her own way. Julia rejects the Party’s rules through personal acts of defiance rather than ideology. Her relationship with Winston offers both of them a brief glimpse of freedom and intimacy in a tightly controlled world. 

O’Brien (male, 40s–50s) A powerful and enigmatic member of the Inner Party. Intelligent, composed, and manipulative, O’Brien initially appears sympathetic to Winston’s doubts but ultimately embodies the terrifying authority and psychological cruelty of the regime. 

Charrington (any gender, 50s+) An elderly antique shop owner who seems gentle and nostalgic for the past. Charrington provides Winston with a small refuge from the Party’s watchful eye, though the character’s true role reveals the extent of the regime’s surveillance and deception. 

Parsons (male, 30s–40s) Winston’s neighbor and coworker. Cheerful, loud, and blindly devoted to Big Brother, Parsons represents the unquestioning loyalty the Party expects from its citizens. 

Mrs. Parsons (female, 30s–40s)
Winston’s neighbor and the wife of Parsons. Nervous, exhausted, and fearful, she is dominated by both the Party and her own children, who have been indoctrinated to spy and report disloyalty. She represents the erosion of family bonds and the pervasive atmosphere of suspicion.

Syme (any gender, 20s–30s) A highly intelligent linguist working on the Newspeak dictionary. Enthusiastic about the Party’s manipulation of language, Syme understands its implications too well — making him/her ultimately vulnerable within the system. 

Martin (any gender, 30s-50s)
A quiet, observant Inner Party servant to O’Brien. Efficient and expressionless, Martin carries out orders without question. His/her calm demeanor masks his/her complicity in the Party’s manipulation and control, reinforcing the sense of constant surveillance and obedience.

There are a few minor roles that may be doubled up, so be prepared to have a few extra lines! 

The Party / Big Brother (any gender, ensemble) The ever-present authority governing Oceania. Represented through voices, projections, and surveillance, Big Brother symbolizes absolute power, constant observation, and the erasure of individual truth. 

The Historians / Researchers (any gender, ensemble) Figures from a future time attempting to reconstruct Winston’s story. Their presence frames the narrative and raises questions about memory, history, and whether truth can ever fully be recovered.