Orwell&saarakkala BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING
“Corporations, money, and nations exist only in our imagination. They are stories we have created to serve us. Stories and imaginations are not evil. They are essential. However, stories are merely tools. They should not become our goals or benchmarks, and we should not sacrifice our lives to serve them.”
Harari, Homo Deus
Dramatized from George Orwell’s classic work “1984” by Janne Saarakkala. Directed and adapted by Jonna Wikström. Set and costume design by Paula Koivunen. Sound design and music adaptation by Markus Bonsdorff. Lighting design by Mia Jalerva. Video design by Vilma Vantola. Choreography by Kaari Martin. Director’s assistant: Siiri Karjula. Producer: Noora Lattunen. ON STAGE: Deka Abdi, Qaali Mohamud Abdulahi, Alba Valderrama, Ali Saad, Manar Asad Al-Samarrai, Amos Bonsdorff, Annamaria Kaatonen, Wahedullah Gahlarzeh, Janette Hirvonen, Jesse Gyllenbögel, Julia Von Lerber, Mariel Helovirta, Milana Novokmet, Farhan Muhammed, Javad Nabizada, Nella Backman, Niilo Lahtinen, Adnan Rahim, Roosa Vuokkola
“Gradually, humans have only muted the animal and plant kingdoms. The world became a one-person show. Humanity stood alone on an empty stage, talking to itself, consulting with no one.” Harari, Homo Deus
2081 – Big Brother is Watching is an adaptation for RyhmisNuoret, based on Janne Saarakkala’s dramatization of George Orwell’s novel 1984. The performance is a chilling dystopia in which the main character, Winston Smith, works at the Ministry of Truth, where, as expected, he alters truth by inventing lies. It is a stark and timely story about the dangers of totalitarianism, nationalism, privacy-destroying surveillance, censorship, and indifference toward nature. RyhmisNuoret’s adaptation also features the thoughts of young people about the future. The performance is part of the ESF (European Social Fund)-funded project Porukalla pääosaan, which supports youth with immigrant backgrounds through art, culture, and school youth work. The group includes 10 native Finnish theatre enthusiasts and 10 immigrant youths.