Dystopia in a Brightside factory

A play adaptation of George Orwell's dystopian classic 1984 was performed in an empty warehouse in Brightside, Sheffield.

A cavernous warehouse at Brightside in Sheffield was transformed into a theatre for a play adapted from George Orwell's dystopian classic novel, 1984.

Dystopia is the opposite of utopia - a place in which everything is as bad as possible. Orwell's vision for 1984 was a totalitarian future state in which people's thoughts and actions were policed constantly.

Sixty years after the book's publication, the play is being recreated in the empty factory space owned by a bridge engineering company, Ekspan.

Matthew Dronfield, Chief Executive of the company, came to the aid of a local theatre group when they were stuck for a venue in which to perform:

Barbara Bentley and Matthew Dronfield are producing 1984

"It was a coming together of two minds over a beer. I was chatting to someone from the Open Door Theatre Company and they were stuck for a venue.

"It was literally: you haven't got a venue; we've got a factory, there's nothing in it, why don't you put the play on in the factory?"

The warehouse-cum-theatre now houses a huge set, tiered seating, theatre lighting and a bar. Matthew enlisted many of his staff to help with the work on the 15,000 square foot space.

Barbara Bentley is artistic director of the Open Door Theatre Company, an innovative community theatre group who like to bring their productions to people instead of making the public come to them.

Barbara says that performing the play in a warehouse removes many of the limitations of a conventional theatre venue: "Choosing a factory as the venue we hope will attract people who wouldn't normally be interested in going to a theatre. This offers something quite different."

Dystopian Park Hill set

The 20-foot wide, nine-metre high set was one of the biggest the designer had ever painted. An iconic Sheffield building was used as the inspiration:

Big Brother will speak to the audience from huge screens above the stage

"It's constructed to reflect Park Hill," explains Matthew Dronfield. "Grey concrete columns and dark areas gives it a sinister feeling."

The audience is overlooked by patrolling guards and huge screens giving the feeling that Orwell's Big Brother really is watching them. Matthew says that the atmosphere is not intended to be pleasant:

"George Orwell was trying to reflect a future time when there was difficulty, despair and everyone was being watched. Doesn't that sound like today?

"Everyone will feel a bit intimidated; the play doesn't lend itself to a pleasurable time. But if in two years time people remember going to see 'that play in the Ekspan factory down on Brightside Lane, and wasn't that unusual?' then that's the achievement."

Future for the factory theatre

The production was called the Brightside Project to reflect Sheffield's rich industrial quarter where the play was staged. Matthew says it brings the community together:

"Industry and art are differing worlds which rarely get the chance to come together and produce truly innovative theatre.

Ekspan staff worked on the staff and facilities for the play

"People from all different sectors have helped us with the production; our customers from construction, local businesses... we've had support from Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Theatres and the Yorkshire Arts Council."

The newly installed facilities mean the factory could be used to hold more events in the future. Matthew hopes that people will want to make use of it:

"It seems a waste to take it all down at the end. If anyone else wants to come and put a production on here, we want to see this sort of space survive because it will be an asset to the city."

If you want to speak to Matthew about using the venue for an event in the future, phone Ekspan on 0114 2611126.