Theatre Interview: Ifeanyi Felukwu

You are in the upcoming production of 1984. Why should we come to see it?

Ifeanyi: Yes, yes, I am and very excited to be a part of it too. I honestly don’t think it's a question of why the audience should come and see this edition of 1984. Rather, when and how soon. I suppose it depends on the person, but what I would ask myself, with the advantage of knowing the insides of the play, is this happening today? To me? To the society? The world I live in? It’s a stop and think moment, really.

The book came out in 1949. Is it relevant for today’s young people?

Ifeanyi: I don't know if it's just me but with things that are of truth and of times long, long, ago, whether that be the Bible or a King Arthurian tale, the longer time goes on the more fitting its message becomes. And who knew 1984, written 35 years prior to its chosen date for its title, would be so big in 2025. With its themes of constant surveillance, appliances hearing your every word, persistent promotions of things to buy. Its message of rising up and not conforming to settings in place because one knows no better is clear and accessible to everyone, regardless of age, background, or anything else. And the great thing about this story is that it’s on a level where everyone will have a personal interpretation, something that they can get from it for themselves. And that’s exactly why I really am enjoying getting to do this play. It’s coming together very nicely.

Has the play been updated in at all?

Ifeanyi: If you're asking is it different from the book, yes. Its playwrights Duncan Macmillan and Robert Icke have a more direct approach to its themes and a more vivid way of showing rather than telling the audience what it is they need. Starting in the future and working its way back through my character, Winston’s mind, shifting between my memories and present reality.

How did you go about preparing for your role?

Ifeanyi: I play Winston, the man on the moon in a sense, where he lives is otherworldly in its rooted ways - "ignorance is strength." I saw it as an exciting challenge to play such a central figure. But secondly, because of how normal I found him as a character and how important he was to this world, I needed to play essentially a 9-5 working man, whose routine is ground-hogged, day by day, but then to bring enough of the fate of 1984 to Winston’s life. He is the one, who from the very beginning in this play, knows something is not right. Something is up. What is it? What can’t I remember? And this sense grows in Winston’s mind as the play goes along. I hope, in accordance with the audience, we will get that sensation of the light at the end of the tunnel until we can finally touch it.

Preparing for the role, I have to admit I was secretly doing before I even knew I would be cast as Winston. We found out as a group we were doing the production and I began reading the book as soon as I could get my hands on it. From then, I knew exactly who I wanted to portray. It was what Winston stood for in comparison to everyone else. His point he wants to get across to Julia throughout, is one not just for her but for the whole world and that willingness to just do the right thing is something I like to think I have. Along with Spiderman. In saying that, preparation involved remembering what I stood for in my everyday life and bringing that to the character and to the lines in the script.

How was the audition?

Ifeanyi: The audition was a self-tape sent to all, I remember, regardless of who you were going up for. We all had to submit this monologue Winston says in the play. My preparation for that was rigorous, I wanted the lines down way before the submission, so that they could really mean something when it came to recording my self-tape. I suppose this paid off because I got the part. Yay!

How does a local lad end up in an acclaimed theatrical show?

Ifeanyi: I left secondary school and the next step I supposed was football, which is why I went on to football college, where full-time football and sports science came hand in hand. By the end of sixth form, achieving my qualification in sports sciences was great, but I’m sure my times of doing plays in primary school and drama-related pieces in secondary were shouting out to me at this point. But I didn't hear them and off to Durham University to study Archaeology I went, from enjoying Egypt and things Egyptology related as a little kid.

Shout out to ‘House of Anubis’ a show I really liked on Nickelodeon! A year in at university and playing that Christmas tree in Year 4 was all I could think off. By the second year at Uni, I began thinking if Drama school could be a way to a career path. Especially, as after being at the Television Workshop during sixth form, I thought that was the only way in. And so I dropped out from Uni, and with a tireless amount of Shakespeare stored in the membrane, I was off to drama school. In the meantime, while waiting to go to drama school, I found everything I could to stay in the sport. And one of them is ‘Homegrown Performers,’ offered by Nottingham Playhouse. I auditioned for and thankfully was accepted. There were weekly sessions on building your craft for stage and general performances to be honest and that brought me to Winston.

Were there any obstacles on your journey?

Ifeanyi: The obstacles did come, but like 110m hurdles, you've just to clear them as best as possible with a sprint finish. My obstacles would be regarded as studying something you find out you have no interest in at university level. And then letting your loved ones know that you must make the decision that’s best for you, especially with the time you have. Making the decision to leave archaeology and pursue acting, my true want, was the correct one and I'm glad the decision came then rather than in ten years-time. This wisdom is something I always ask God to provide me with, so I can make the right decisions.

What’s next for you after 1984?

Ifeanyi: Well after 1984, it is fifties New York – a Twelve Angry Men production I’ll be in, so watch that space! In ten years I want to be still telling stories, telling stories for the people, conveying emotions to bring a character to the 

surface. And if that then triggers something, anything even in one person, I would have done my job as an actor.

1984 runs at the Nottingham Playhouse from Thursday 17th of July to Friday 18th of July 2025.