This is one mans alarmed vision of the future.  A future he thought with such dangerous ease be brought about. Atomic war, famine, revolution; the collapse of a civilization.  This in 1984 is London, city of the state of oceania.  The production proved to be hugely controversial, with questions asked in Parliament and many viewer complaints over its supposed subversive nature and horrific content.

The leading role of Winston Smith was taken by the young Peter Cushing, in one of his first major roles. Cartier cast him after having been impressed with his performance in a BBC production of Anastasia the previous year. Cushing would later go on to become a major star of the cinema, as would his fellow Nineteen Eighty-Four actor Donald Pleasence, who played the role of Syme in this production.