About the director: Jack Reardon
This autumn, George Orwell’s classic novel, 1984, is being brought to life in an immersive, site-specific performance at Hackney Town Hall. Following its success in 2023, the production returns under the new direction of Jack Reardon. He ushers audiences into the Ministry of Truth, inviting them to observe (and be observed) as the action unfolds across several rooms. Let’s find out more about this acclaimed director and his work.
Beginnings
Born in Clonmel, Tipperary, Jack attended Stagecraft Youth Theatre from the age of 11 before reading Communication Studies at Dublin City University. Having graduated, he completed a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Theatre Directing at the Lir Academy. The Lir is part of Trinity College Dublin and is affiliated with RADA in the UK, making it one of Ireland’s most prestigious theatre schools. While there, he directed, produced and starred in a range of productions, including ‘Spring Awakening’, which he produced at The Helix in 2015.
Jack spent the next eight years in Dublin working on both fringe and large scale productions, most notably ‘Let the Right One In’ - a West End production that subsequently went to Dublin. His credits also include ‘Fugee’ and ‘Rent’.
Before the pandemic, Jack was involved in an immersive/site-specific work called ‘Overlook’, which explored military life inside a former army barracks. Sadly the production never played; during pre-production, COVID-19 hit and work on it was halted.
1984
A few years later, Jack arrived in London and his experiences on ‘Overlook’ led to the Young Vic putting him in touch with Madeleine Wilson and Adam Taub, 1984’s producer and executive producer. The result is a show that speaks to today’s audiences as much as it honours Orwell’s novel. Reardon is keen to bring audiences something that resonates with them, while showing them how easy it is to be complicit in the perpetuation of extreme regimes. In an interview with Immersive Rumours, he says,
“1984, as a novel and as a play says, [the rise of the far right is scary], but this is how it happens and this is how they do it. That's really interesting, exciting, and terrifying, but also insightful within our production to see how that happens and maybe how much you play a part in that as an audience member.”
Other projects
In addition to his directing roles, Jack is the artistic director of Stagecraft Youth Theatre in Tipperary. He also works as a teacher and director at the Lir Academy Dublin, where he trained. His primary interest in both these roles is unlocking the potential of the next generation of creatives, whether they aspire to act, direct or design.
The 1984 theatre show runs until 22 December 2024 and is 75 minutes long with no interval. An unsettling, thought-provoking production, it explores the psychology of totalitarianism and surveillance, drawing parallels between Orwell’s world and our own. If you’re searching for ‘theatres near me’, don’t miss this disquieting spectacle. Book your ticket to the play with KX Tickets today.
