1984 at The Playhouse Theatre

Not your average play, this stage production will blow your senses away. The stage opens with a book club discussing the novel and with a blink of the eye the scene changes and we are in Big Brother's world. 

Mark Arends and Hara Yannas as Winston and Julia respectively, are superb. They convince the audience and have us guessing even if we know the story. The secondary characters are also very well acted.  Orwell's themes of a regimental society, a world of voyeurism and the downsizing of vocabulary, are all explored in a creative way. 

The lighting is extremely effective and has to be commended. The flash lights paired with the roaring sound effects mean you will be holding on to the edge of your seat. The set designs must also be mentioned, changing quickly from a gathering around a table to a bedroom with surveillance and later to the dreaded Room 101. 

A real being thrown into the atmosphere kind of denouement, your nerves will be as shaky as poor Winston's. With no interval, it is intense and the final scenes are stifling, yet you will be compelled to watch. 

This production is every bit as chilling as Orwell describes in the original novel.  Not for the faint hearted, it will remain with you for a long time. A magnificent take on Orwell's novel on dystopia. 

Cast

Mark Arends, Hara Yannas, Tim Dutton, Stephen Fewell, Christopher Patrick Nolan, Matthew Spencer, Gavin Spokes and Mandi Symonds.

Lighting, sound and video design by Natasha Chivers, Tom Gibbons and Tim Reid 

Marriage Material by Sathnam Sanghera

This is the latest read for those that want to lose themselves in a book. Un-put-down-able, touching and hilarious. Set in Wolverhampton and spanning three generations of a Sikh family, this is a tale of family, culture, politics and love.

The plot is actually a rework of Arnold Bennett's, The Old Wives' Tale, but Sanghera cleverly uses the plot to bring to light themes closer to his own heart. It is told in a narrator’s voice and switches viewpoint throughout, giving readers the opportunity to see events through the different characters. There are also many plot twists that will leave you on the edge of your seat, especially as the narration then switches.

This is Sanghera’s second book, after his first, The Boy with a Topknot.  Readers of the first novel will appreciate the familiar themes and enjoy Sanghera’s newer style of writing. What I most enjoy about Sanghera’s works, is his ability to write with such insight. He describes the feelings of being brought up in a mixed culture with clarity and warmth as well as a touch of satire; a real talent. Another admirable trait is the ability to write about the characters so that they are alive and bouncing off the pages whilst also growing on the reader.

An engaging and poignant story, it will keep you guessing throughout and make you laugh. A perfect book club read.