A large ensemble crouches and reaches across a dark stage in blue light, with a blinding white backlight creating a tense, high-energy atmosphere.

The Cockpit Theatre2023

1984

The Production

London Youth Theatre’s August 2023 production of 1984 was staged at The Cockpit Theatre, bringing the company’s young ensemble into a professional London venue. The production formed part of LYT’s programme of full-scale work for young performers across the capital.

47 photographs in the curated edit

Director: Katie Pesskin
Movement Director: Nicola Chambers
Lighting Design: Cheng Keng
Sound Design: Jamie Lu
Commissioned by: London Youth Theatre
Photography: Steve Gregson

Performers in black streetwear crowd forward under blue stage lights, some shouting while one holds a microphone close to his mouth.

A performer in a red bandana and black leather jacket grabs another performer by the shirt as surrounding ensemble members move and react across the stage.

Three performers in white coveralls occupy a stark stage with long paper banners marked “August 1984,” an eye symbol on the back wall, and one performer seated at a desk.

A performer in white coveralls sits at a small desk with a notebook, mug, and tissue box, staring intensely while another writes on a tall paper banner behind them.

Close-up of a performer in translucent white coveralls seated at a desk, looking forward with a serious expression beside a mug, pen, and tissue box.

Performers in white coveralls and black streetwear cluster around a desk, looking in different directions with alert, uneasy expressions.

A performer in a red bandana and black leather jacket reads from an open patterned book with one finger raised, while others stand closely behind.

A lone performer in white coveralls stands center stage with hands clasped between two long banners repeatedly reading “Down with Big Brother,” beneath an eye symbol.

Close-up of a performer in white coveralls looking upward with a worried expression, with a blurred protest banner behind them.

A tight group of performers in translucent white coveralls huddle in blue darkness, one holding a small flashlight as another leans forward tensely.

Performers in translucent white coveralls stand in formation with arms outstretched, lit warmly against a dark stage with a protest-style banner behind them.

A wide stage view shows an ensemble in white coveralls spread across white floor strips, crouching and extending their arms beneath banners reading “Down with Big Brother” and an eye symbol.

Three performers in white coveralls sit close together on chairs with trays in their laps, one speaking animatedly while the others listen.

A performer in a white coverall holds an open book and speaks urgently toward the audience, with an eye symbol and blurred figure behind them.

An ensemble in white coveralls fills the stage in chaotic movement, reaching, bending, and clutching themselves under bright backlights and hazy atmosphere.

A performer in a white coverall speaks into a handheld microphone from behind an upper railing against a brick wall.

A performer in a translucent white coverall stares upward with a serious expression, with other performers blurred in a line behind him.

In blue smoky light, a large ensemble in white coveralls faces an elevated balcony where two performers stand between “Down with Big Brother” banners and an eye symbol.

Red light and haze flood the stage as an ensemble in white coveralls stands facing the raised platform, framed by tall banners and an eye symbol.

An ensemble in translucent white coveralls crowd a smoky stage, with several performers shouting or confronting each other under a bright backlight.

Performers in white coveralls spread across a blue-lit, smoky stage, some leaning forward and shouting as tall banners loom in the background.

A wide view of a dark stage shows two performers in white coveralls separated by long paper strips, with a folding chair, banners reading “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER,” and an eye symbol behind them.

A performer in a white coverall stands in warm light with arms open and palms raised, looking upward against a dark stage.

A performer in a white coverall stands behind a black railing against a brick wall set, hands resting on the ledge in focused stillness.

Two performers in white coveralls sit close together on the floor, one cradling the other’s head in their lap under warm stage lighting.

A large ensemble in white coveralls sits in pairs across torn white paper on the stage, while a lone performer stands at a raised desk between banners reading “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER.”

A close-up of a performer in a white coverall shows them looking upward with a tense expression, lit by warm and pink stage light.

Two performers in white coveralls stand face to face holding hands, one wearing a red belt, in an intimate moment under pink stage light.

A performer in glasses and a white coverall holds a handheld microphone near their mouth, with two blurred performers and a “BIG BROTHER” banner behind them.

A performer in glasses and a translucent white coverall holds a microphone at the front of the stage while others move behind them beneath tall banners reading “Down with Big Brother.”

A performer in a translucent white coverall lies curled on a patterned rug under warm pink and purple stage light.

A performer in a translucent white coverall looks upward while holding a small ornate book against their chest in pink stage light.

A wide blue-lit stage scene shows performers in white coveralls arranged around chairs and paper sheets, with haze and protest banners in the background.

Performers in white coveralls stand in a line on an upper platform under red light, above banners reading “Down with Big Brother” and a drawn eye symbol.

Three performers in white coveralls stand in green light, with the seated centre performer shouting and holding red-stained hands forward.

Close-up of a seated performer’s clenched, red-stained hands resting on their lap over a translucent white coverall.

Two standing performers in white coveralls hold the arms of a seated performer who arches back with red stains on their face and costume under stark stage light.

A large ensemble in white coveralls fills the stage, with two performers seated in the foreground and tall “Down with Big Brother” banners at the back.

A performer in glasses and a white coverall raises one hand toward the audience, with other performers blurred behind them beneath protest banners.

A standing performer in white coveralls rests a hand on the head of a seated performer with red-smeared face and hands, while blurred figures in matching coveralls stand behind.

A wide stage view shows an ensemble in white coveralls around seated, blood-streaked performers, with torn paper on the floor and banners reading “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER.”

Two performers in white coveralls pull the outstretched sleeves of a seated, blood-smeared performer who grimaces, with the ensemble looming behind in green backlight.

In dim green light, performers in white coveralls lift another performer horizontally overhead while others cluster nearby on the dark stage.

A performer in blood-spattered white coveralls sits at a small table holding a white mug beside a stovetop coffee pot, lit by a warm spotlight against darkness.

A performer in blood-spattered white coveralls speaks into a microphone between tall “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER” banners, with an eye symbol above and another performer watching from the side.

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