Hi! Who are you and what is your role in 1984? My name is Jezec Sanders, and I play the role of the fitness loudspeaker in one of the video segments of the show. When you see a guy in a bright red shirt, instructing the characters not to bend their knees, you’ll know that’s me.
What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? This is my first show at Walterdale, and it’s a credit I’m very proud to add to my short resume. My background in theatre is limited to productions in the Fringe festival, which I have done for the past three years. One of the goals I set for myself in 2019 was to be a part of at least one show outside of the Fringe, so when I saw the posting for auditions for 1984, I scoured the U of A library for a copy of the show, and started reading!
Why do you think audiences should come to the show? Surprisingly, I was never required to read the novel 1984 in high school. But after reading the play, I understand why it is studied in most high schools. The themes of surveillance and deceit are even more poignant today than they were 70 years ago; all one has to do is look at the antics of a certain neighboring government, and the parallels become abundantly clear. I feel audiences will have a deeper connection with the messages of this show because of this fact.
1984 (the play) is based on the novel of the same name that predicts a dystopian future (many of us read it in high school)… what’s your favourite dystopian novel/movie and why? And, because it was asked, my favourite dystopian future is the one depicted in Mad Max: Fury Road, because I love the aesthetics of that film. While our current society may resemble the dystopian future described by Orwell, at least it’s not a post-apocalyptic wasteland…yet.