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George Orwell’s 1984

By: George Orwell, Joe White - adaptation
Narrated by: Andrew Garfield, Cynthia Erivo, Andrew Scott, Tom Hardy, Chukwudi Iwuji, Romesh Ranganathan, Natasia Demetriou, Francesca Mills, Alex Lawther, Katie Leung
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Summary

From the age of uniformity.
From the age of solitude and doublethink.
From the age of Big Brother.
From me, Winston Smith.
Greetings.

It’s 1984, and life has changed beyond recognition. Airstrip One, formerly known as Great Britain, is a place where Big Brother is always watching, and nobody can hide. Except, perhaps, for Winston Smith. Whilst working at the Ministry of Truth, rewriting history, he secretly dreams of freedom. And in a world where love and sex are forbidden, where it’s hard to distinguish between friend and foe, he meets Julia and O’Brien and vows to rebel.

Starring Andrew Garfield as Winston, Cynthia Erivo as Julia, Andrew Scott as the alluring, mysterious O’Brien, and featuring Tom Hardy as Big Brother, Audible presents a new dramatization of George Orwell’s classic tale. An immersive listening experience like none you’ve heard before, at a time when it has all never felt more chillingly relevant.

Featuring a haunting original score composed by Muse’s lead singer and songwriter Matthew Bellamy and Ilan Eshkeri, recorded by the London Metropolitan Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios, the production is directed by BAFTA Award winner Destiny Ekaragha, produced in Dolby Atmos by Granny Eats Wolf, and dramatised by Olivier Award nominated writer Joe White.

Also starring Chukwudi Iwuji, Romesh Ranganathan, Natasia Demetriou, Francesca Mills, Alex Lawther and Katie Leung.

Featuring Ian Abeysekera, Rachel Atkins, Grace Baker, Joanna Brookes, Clare Corbett, Doug Devaney, Imogen Front, Sam Garioch, Raj Ghatak, Frances Jeater, Mason Moore, Yasmin Mwanza, Harry Myers, Kaelum Nelson, John Sackville, Sienna Sangha, Sam Stafford, Jo Troy, Jenny White, Sarah Whitehouse & Alix Wilton Regan

This adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984 is an immersive listening experience, containing scenes that some may find uncomfortable. Listener discretion is advised.

Available in Dolby Atmos.
©The Estate of the late Sonia Brownell Orwell / Public Domain (P)2023 Audible Ltd
Classics Dystopian Editors Select Political Scary
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1984, An Audible Original Drama.
  • 1984, An Audible Original Drama.

Who controls the past, controls the future.

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Joe White
Destiny Ekaragha
Matthew Bellamy
Ilan Eshkeri

About the Writer

Joe White is an Olivier-nominated writer of stage, screen, and audio. He is the writer of the hit West End musical The Little Big Things and award-winning plays Blackout Songs (Olivier Nomination) and Mayfly (winner of Off West End Most Promising Playwright). For Audible, his eight-part eco-thriller The Nox (starring Lashana Lynch) was nominated for Best Drama at the ARIA Awards. Previously, Joe was a member of BBC Pilot, The Old Vic 12, and the Royal Court Studio group, and was a recipient of the Channel 4 Playwriting Award and The JB Priestley Award for writers of promise.

About the Director

Destiny Ekaragha is a UK-based director who was named BAFTA Breakthrough Brit in 2014. Her award-winning feature comedy Gone Too Far! premiered at London Film Festival and played at TIFF. Destiny directed Danny and the Human Zoo, written by the acclaimed comedian Lenny Henry for Red Productions/BBC One. She has directed primetime UK television such as Silent Witness, international drama including Riviera, the second half of the BAFTA-winning season 2 of The End of the F**Ing World* for Netflix, and most recently, the Golden Globe nominees Ted Lasso and Fellow Travellers.

About the Composer

Matthew Bellamy is the singer, guitarist, and songwriter for the band Muse. The band has released nine studio albums, selling over 30 million albums worldwide. Widely recognized as one of the best live bands in the world, Muse has won numerous music awards, including two Grammys, an American Music Award, five MTV Europe Music Awards, two Brit Awards, eleven NME Awards, and seven Q Awards, amongst others.
In addition to his work with Muse, Matt’s composer/performer work includes “Pray (High Valyrian)” for the Game of Thrones compilation album For the Throne, the opening title for the movie World War Z, and the end title for The International.

About the Composer

Ilan Eshkeri is one of the most diverse and innovative composers in Britain today. His music traverses various genres and mediums with a focus on emotional narrative.
Eshkeri is known for films such as Layer Cake, Stardust, The Young Victoria, and *Still Alice, his innovative work with actor/director Ralph Fiennes, and his music for David Attenborough documentaries. He has also worked with artists such as Coldplay, KT Tunstall, Take That, Annie Lennox, and David Gilmour.
On stage, Eshkeri has created ballets, fashion shows, and concerts. His most recent show is with NASA and ESA: Space Station Earth, a synth-pop orchestral and visual experience which takes the audience on the extraordinary emotional journey of an astronaut.
Eshkeri is dyslexic and synaesthetic; colors, music, and patterns merge in his mind, allowing him to imagine unconventional methods of approaching music, which gives rise to his distinct, innovative style blended with a profound emotional connection to human stories and leaves an indelible mark on the world of music.

Andrew Garfield

as Winston

Cynthia Erivo

as Julia

Andrew Scott

as O'Brien

Tom Hardy

as Big Brother

Editorial Review

The best story you’ve never heard
Orwell’s 1984 is part of my sci-fi fan origin story—and it remains one of my favorite books to this day. My colleagues can attest to my insufferable anticipation for this new Audible Original adaptation. I’m double-plus thrilled to report that the end result surpassed all of my highest expectations. The talent involved is almost an embarrassment of riches: with lead roles by Andrew Garfield, Cynthia Erivo, Andrew Scott, and Tom Hardy, and music composition by Matt Bellamy of Muse (all mixed in Dolby Atmos spatial audio). I could scarcely stop listening: entranced by the performance as if hearing this story for the first time. It manages to be faithful to Orwell’s original novel and yet entirely reinvigorating. Hands-down, one of my favorite listens I’ve heard in my tenure here as an editor. —Sam D., Audible Editor

What listeners say about George Orwell’s 1984

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Profile Image for James

Wow - fantastic audio experience!

I've never read the original book, but the recognisable cultural references that originated from this story are immediately clear (Big Brother, Room 101, etc). I felt the significance of the story very early on.

I was blown away by the performances, and felt emotionally invested in their characters quickly. The passion, fear, anger and desperation all comes across intensely.

An incredible, but bleak alternate reality, clearly inspired by the darkest events and political movements of the 20th Century.

This is a must listen!

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Double plus gooood! The best 3 hours I spent in a long time

The cast is phenomenal. The sound design is incredible, creating such an atmosphere! I felt standing/walking next to the protagonists. O’Brien doesn’t disappoint. The music give the perfect edge. Truly a must-listen. Thank you!

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6 people found this helpful

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Absolutely Brilliant.

From production, to casting, to music - this was absolute perfection. I’ve not read the original, nor did I know much about it, but it popped up after I’d listened to Handmaids Tale, and I love Andrew Scott, so I decided to give it a go!

Don’t hesitate, go listen.

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Wow, just wow

Just wow, an amazing adaptation and amazing performances all round
Will be listening again soon

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Absolutely immense, gripping

Almost to the point of un nerve which I suppose is in fitting with the novel itself, this is immense. One of the best things I’ve ever listened too, 10/10

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Double plus good, comrade!

Amazing production quality really brings this classic to life, voice acting and original music is fantastic

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Chilling depiction of the future

A very enjoyable version of George Orwell’s amazing 1984. I listened to this in one sitting, very easy to listen to and a great depiction of the book.

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Engaging performances

Great performances, great music, lovely adaptation of an iconic, much loved book that we all know

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Andrew Garfield was unreal

I only wish it was the whole book just to listen to more but it was a great adaptation

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Wow!

Andrew Garfield's performance was phenomenal! The music rocked the story, almost better than reading the book 😁

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