Who are you and what is your role in the production? My name is Martin Stout and I play Big Brother, the omniscient and infallible supreme ruler of Oceania. Although it’s the smallest role in the the play, Big Brother’s presence looms very large throughout. Despite this, Oceanians really know nothing about him personally, so I speculate that he (and Goldstein) may be a double for a deceased original, or an invented and scripted figurehead, or even an artificial intelligence with only a virtual existence.
What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale?I’ve been involved in community theatre in Beaumont since 1993. My first performance at Walterdale was as Mr. Pinchwife in the Country Wife in 2001. I directed Lady Windermere’s Fan here in 2016. My most recent role was as the heavenly voice of God in Altar Boyz. So I’m sensing a type casting trend in my appearances now. Perhaps it’s my English accent!
Why did you come out for the show? Why did you want to do it? This must be the easiest job in the show as I have very few lines and my performance is entirely video recorded. However, it’s just great to have the chance to play the face of oppressive, authoritarian dictatorship. I generally relish any opportunity to play villains or antagonists because of the freedom this confers to behave and speak as I could never do in the real world; to try to put myself into a mindset that is diametrically opposed to my own.
Why do you think audiences should come see the show?1984 is a timeless drama of individual freedom versus the conformity of all-pervasive, oppressive state control. It has certainly acquired renewed currency in the 21st century: the era of fake news, political leadership cults and everybody carrying their own personal electronic self-monitoring device 24/7. Monica’s choices for the staging, set and costumes of this show will be both visually arresting and frighteningly believable. It’s going to be epic!
1984 (the play) is based on the novel of the same name that predicts a dystopian future (many of us read it in high school)… what’s your favourite dystopian novel/movie and why?I have a great liking for dystopian fiction, so there are many titles for me to choose from. My choice for favourite dystopian novel would be A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. Like 1984 it plays with our use of the English language to symbolize meaning and so questions what we think we know – real horrorshow ! It seems to foretell an future that is only just around the corner, but somehow never quite arrives. Burgess also created a stage version which I once saw performed at the Barbican Theatre in London. Perhaps, the time has now come for Walterdale to re-stage it?
