8:30am Saturday 21st November 2009
By Graham Moody
All around London, theatres are preparing themselves for that annual Christmas tradition of dressing up minor celebrities in silly costumes and getting them to make fools of themselves on stage, but not so at Battersea Arts Centre.
Instead, Blind Summit Theatre will be doing something completely different at the venue and putting on George Orwell's 1984, which isn't exactly full of boo hisses and he's behind you laughs but will appeal to adults wanting to see some real theatre over the festive period.
"It started off as a bit of dark humour with BAC saying let's put it on at Christmas when you least expect it," says Mark Down, co-founder of the company with Nick Barnes.
"When Amnesty International became interested as well it became a serious idea.
"Christmas is a time when we should think about what we are doing in our world and what we are responsible for in our world.
"We've been wanting to do the show for a couple of years anyway and it seemed a good thing to put on at Christmas.
"It has a really important message not just for now but for always which is to not lose touch with humanity and be tempted by technology and the things that come with that.
"It's not a boring story though and there is lots of humour as well."
Down and Barnes have decided to take a low-tech and minimalist approach to performing the play, returning to the simple form of theatre making free from modern digital technology and using just cardboard props, live actors and puppetry.
"We are really focusing on the characters in the story," says Nick.
"Partly because in theatre the people are the most interesting thing on the stage.
"We wanted to do what the stage could best bring out of the book but this isn't an alternative to reading the book, it's another experience of the book.
"I also realised our special effect is the cast and the way they work together.
"They work together so beautifully as a group in the way they respond to one another."
The pair formed the company in 1997 when Down completed his training at drama school having become disillusioned with his life as a doctor, while Nick was looking for something to do with a number of puppets he had made.
"I was involved in making some puppets and decided the best way to use them would be a theatre company," he says.
"That began Blind Summit and I met Mark through a show and it went on from there."
"Puppetry is popular in theatre at the moment," adds Down.
"I think that's because there's a real interest in theatricality and in really interesting theatrical forms now."
1984, Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, December 2 to 23 and January 4 to 9, 7.30pm plus matinees, £16. Call 020 7223 2223 or visit bac.org.uk.
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