George Orwell’s classic tale of government surveillance and censorship returns to the Playhouse Theatre following its acclaimed international tour in Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan’s hugely successful adaptation.

Set in the year of its title and inspired by the appendix of the novel, this stage version of 1984 charts the story of Winston Smith, an employee of the Ministry of Truth who spends his working days rewriting newspaper articles to make history support the views of the Party.

Exploring a dystopian future where individualism and independent thought are outlawed, the show follows Winston as he begins writing a diary and falls in love under the watchful eye of Big Brother.

After receiving its world premiere at the Nottingham Playhouse in September 2013, the Headlong, Almeida and Nottingham Playhouse co-production made its London debut at the Almeida Theatre in February 2014. That spring the show received an Olivier Award nomination for Best New Play and later transferred to London’s Playhouse Theatre, before embarking on its plaudit-winning tour.

Now, one of theatre’s most powerful – and startlingly pertinent – events returns to London for a limited season, and is surely not to be missed.