Jake Allsop

Jake Allsop

As our group originally had an idea to create a piece centered on dark thoughts that human beings participated in, we now focus on the dark thought of one person in particular: George Orwell. Orwell’s magnum opus “1984” came when he had a terrible vision of world without free speech, without will and constant surveillance and control gripped our world. With this in mind, our group will create a piece that depicts a dystopian future resembling Orwell’s influential book.

On this topic, our Director presented us with tasks that stem from a totalitarian world. The first was to have an everyday activity caught on camera as every aspect of the World would be under heavy video surveillance. I decided to have someone film me as I was sleeping as I saw the sheer uncomfortable level of privacy invasion as the Government could spy on you even as you sleep, reminding you that the Government can perceive you as a potential threat to their  regime.

The second task was to scribe 5 rules that the Government could enforce in this dystopian world. I looked back on other examples of a world under complete subjugation such as V for Vendetta to the Justice Lords arc from the Justice League animated series. I took these fictional worlds under advisement as I decided on rules that are extreme in this modern world but not too out far from the realm of possibility.

The final task was to choose a script written by Richard Foreman who specializes in Ontological-Hysteric Theatre, While his script were rather outlandish I decided on the piece “Suppose” as I was intrigued by the real world propositions Foreman posed in a potential world environment.

Moving forward I’m certain with tasks such as these we will continue to push the envelope of what our dystopian piece can achieve.

Five Rules for the New World

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SCENE X – By Jack Tullin

ONE. They’re in my mind. Words. Phrases. Ideas. Flying through my brain at a million miles an hour. I didn’t invite them, they broke in. Flicking through my memories and filling it with lies like a marker pen in a children’s coloring book. I know things they don’t know.

‘Tell them,’ one says. ‘It’s not good to keep secrets,’ says another. I can’t tell, I won’t tell. The demons in my mind will not win me over.

Demons, that’s what I’ve called them; the voices of Satan crawling around giving me orders as though I’m a soldier of the underworld. Asking me to think things, tell things… do things.

In a world where nobody’s life is private it makes sense they can see into my mind as easily as a living room. You would have thought the thick bone of my skull would be enough to block them out but no. They’ve learned. Not that they can control me just by my mind alone though… no. The human will power is too strong. So I’ve stopped eating… drinking. The drugs that could subdue me to their power will not… cannot enter me. They will not drug me.

The overpowering static that blocks out the world is deafening. I can hear them now. A gospel. Holy Words. ‘Penetrating’ they’re saying, telling me of God. In days of old he was a force of good. Now he is just power. Controlling power. ‘The light of god, the understanding of God.’ Stop! stop it. Get out of my mind. Stop telling me I’m insane.

‘When you die, there will be nothing left of you except the God man, the God woman, the heavenly man, the heavenly woman, the heavenly child. There will be a song of jubilee waiting for your kin! There will be nothing except your God.’

‘This is all a dream, a dream in the gaps.’ they said. They won.

 Audio file that goes with the script

A possible opening scene music. 

“We are G.O.D.
We protect. We care. We watch.”

So in my “dystopian future”… (I say ‘mine’, I mean some stuff I think would work. I don’t believe this is what should happen in the future) the people would live in a place called “Sector 3”, think hunger games with the districts. but you have the sectors as like circles out from the centre. Sector three is the furthest out, “Sector 2” is next in.. more of that later, and “Sector 1”, where the G.O.D are based in the centre of the circle.  As you can see, the G.O.D logo represents the sectors.

Anyway – RULES.

1 – Camera / Audio recording in every home.
They don’t always watch, or listen, but they very well might be. In fact, using advanced Siri technology, G.O.D is alerted when you say ‘trigger words’; Rebellion, Ally, Fight, Freedom, e.t.c…

2 – Government controlled media.
Tv, radio and film are all produced and made by G.O.D.
The usual form of entertainment are either songs of praise, reality television, or public broadcasting of punishment.

3 – Government controlled school curriculum.
Schools are only taught things that can benefit G.O.D. Any creative arts subjects would not remain. You would have specific classes in jobs that need doing in the society. Building, Morality Control (Police) training, being a correct citizen.

4 – Daily mandatory viewings.
At a certain time every day the world will stop and watch the television. It will give you the updates of what is important in the world, the “news”, and lead the society in unified song/sermon.

5 – Controlled food / water rations.
Not that it stopped a black market, underground. G.O.D. “cares” for it’s citizens by providing water, bread and fish to each household daily. However, underground markets selling wine, other food, drugs, and so on have started up. Out of sight of cameras and out of sight of Morality Control. If an underground market is found, all stall owners are punished, and the market set on fire.

Punishment.
Depending on the crime; Public Lashings, food rations removed for a certain time period, community service, solitary confinement, public death penalty, or the mysterious “Sector 2”.
Nobody knows what happens in “Sector 2”, only that when you go, there is no coming back. Legend tells that you are conditioned to become a slave to G.O.D in the “chapel”, forever to be a slave to their power, but the truth is, nobody knows. You must not talk about “Sector 2”, you must not ask about “Sector 2”. Punishment for anyone who disobeys.

Set Design.

Playing with the idea of restricted views, and overpowering visual imagery. The stage consists of two barbed wire fences, which you will be able to see through, obviously. Can also serve as a ‘Jail’ scene front. Two moving tall flats at the back. Can serve as door, and also used to conceal and reveal large projector screen at back centre. A slow reveal of “G.O.D” watching would be nice. Or a slow reveal of a member of the “morality control” stood holding a gun. Two projector screens at either side of the stage, encompassing the audience. and finally the catwalk – used for public punishment, may that be shooting, beating, so on… putting the punishment in the heart of the audience as the rest of the community watch from behind the barbed wires.