THE ORWELL SOCIETY

EARLIER this week, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of the publication of Animal Farm, Orwell's allegory of the Russian Revolution and universal parable on the corrupting influence of power. Usually, we'd be celebrating with a series of events and finishing the day off with a game of cards, but sadly we were unable to have Mr Pilkington round this year. However, we were fortunate enough to be joined by Orwell’s biographer DJ Taylor and George Orwell’s son, Richard Blair, for an exclusive new short film that explores the professional and personal struggles Orwell faced in his battle to get the novel which transformed his career and reputation published. Whilst all Animal Farm celebrations are equal, some Animal Farm celebrations are more equal than others. Keep scrolling to watch the film and we are certain you will agree.

Elsewhere in the news, The Orwell Foundation has been following the story of Orwell Youth Prize winner Jessica Johnson, whose piece ‘A Band Apart’, about a dystopian future where an algorithm splits students into bands based on their background, has been widely praised as prescient following the fiasco surrounding this year’s A-level results. Interviewed by BBC Breakfast and Channel 4 News on Wednesday 19 August, Jessica, who wrote the story and won the prize last year, has described how she then discovered she had ‘fallen into her own story’ after her own results were downgraded, leading her to potentially miss out on a place at St Andrews to study English Literature and a scholarship, which was awarded in part on the strength of her extra-curricular achievements. We are pleased to confirm that her place at St Andrews and scholarship have now been confirmed, following the government’s recent change of policy. You can see a summary of the way Jessica’s remarkable story unfolded on our website.

Jessica’s story was chosen in 2019 by judge Caitlin Moran. The Orwell Youth Prize calls on a wide network of expert volunteers to read and sift young people’s entries (all of which are entitled to individual feedback before their final submission). We have been astonished by the number of exceptional entries this year, as over 1200 young people entered the prize during lockdown. Over the last month, we were delighted to announce this year’s winners, chosen by judges Kayo Chingonyi and Kerry Hudson. These are also available to read online. Stay tuned to the Orwell Youth Prize twitter channel as we release comments from ours judges on this year's winning pieces.

There is more to come, too. For those who have been looking to take up a hobby during lockdown, you will pleased to know that an indie adventure video game of Animal Farm will be released in the autumn in celebration of the 75th anniversary of Animal Farm's publication. You can follow the game's development through their Twitter channel: we have had a sneak peak and it is looking doubleplusgood. In the meantime, here is your monthly update of all things Orwell.

Jordan and the Foundation team

Richard Blair speaks at Wigan town hall

by Andrew Nowell Email Published in Wigan Post on 5 Friday 02 February 2018

ichard Blair speaks at Wigan town hall Andrew Nowell Email Published: 14:15 Friday 02 February 2018

Read more at: https://www.wigantoday.net/news/george-orwell-s-son-visits-wigan-to-promote-new-musical-1-8997559

drew Nowell Email Published: 14:15 Friday 02 February 2018

Read more at: https://www.wigantoday.net/news/george-orwell-s-son-visits-wigan-to-promote-new-musical-1-8997559

drew Nowell Email Published: 14:15 Friday 02 February 2018

Read more at: https://www.wigantoday.net/news/george-orwell-s-son-visits-wigan-to-promote-new-musical-1-8997559

THE son of one the world's biggest literary stars came to Wigan yesterday as preparations for a new musical about the author’s local links hot up. Richard Blair, son of George Orwell, attended a civic reception at Wigan Town Hall as part of a day of promotion for Beyond Wigan Pier, a lavish show being penned by Ince musician Alan Gregory.  The show’s concert ADVERTISEMENT premiere in the main venue at The Edge is being crowd-funded, with

The show’s concert premiere in the main venue at The Edge is being crowd-funded, with supporters so far raising more than £4,500 of the £25,000 being sought.  Mr Blair and The Orwell Society have been staunch supporters of the project ever since Alan came up with the idea of a full-length theatrical spectacular, a scheme which had its kernel in a few songs he wrote for the 80th anniversary of 'The Road to Wigan Pier'.

The council has also thrown its backing behind the musical, which will be performed for the first time in April.  Local authority chief executive Donna Hall said: 'We were delighted to welcome Richard Blair to the town hall to recognise all of the hard work he has put into telling the story of Wigan’s rich history.

'This exciting Beyond Wigan Pier musical which will be written, produced and performed by Wiganers, is a chance for us to recognise the changing lives of local people and the positive future ahead for Wigan.'  Alan, who is also a ballet pianist and co-founder of Pies, Pianos and Pirouettes which teaches dance to rugby league lads, has amassed an impressive cast with popular Wigan singer

Scott Chapman and the borough’s X-Factor star Olivia Garcia involved.  Love duet 'Look at Me' will be released as a single on Valentine’s Day to drum up further interest in the show.  It is hoped that the crowd-funding appeal will show there is enough public interest in the borough to persuade Arts Council England to invest ahead of a full theatre staging in 2020.  The team behind the musical also believes it will be the catalyst for further regeneration in Wigan and, perhaps fittingly, underline the contrast between the town in the 21st century and in Orwell’s day.

Alan said: 'This will create investment and jobs in the borough.  My grand plan is to get all the people of Wigan to buy into this.

'The arts are an excellent way to attract investment into an area. This will be created by Wiganers and will hopefully create a whole different way of looking at the town and its people.'

Other supporters of the musical include church movement Transforming Wigan and Scholes community centre Sunshine House.  The crowd-funding campaign is the only way to secure a ticket for the first concert performance at the home of Today’s Community Church, with other rewards on offer ranging from being mentioned as a supporter in the end credits to VIP packages.

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George Orwell event in Red Shed

A crowd of 41 people packed into the meeting room of the Red Shed on the afternoon of Saturday the 16th, September, to discuss 'George Orwell & Socialism'.
The opening speaker, Alan Stewart (Convenor of Wakefield Socialist History Group) spoke about Orwell's time in Barnsley researching material for his book, 'Road to Wigan Pier'.  Orwell went down the pit, inspected housing and wittnessed a Mosley rally in the Civic Hall.
Brian Bamford (Secretary of Tameside TUC) made a spirited defence of Orwell against the criticism of Paul Preston.  Brian insisted that 'Homage to Catalonia' showed the 'true nature of war as a participant.'
Robin Stocks (author of 'Hidden Heros of Easter Week') focused in particular on the Barcelona May Days.  He noted that Orwell had been barricaded in the Hotel Falcon with the POUM leadership.  He added that POUM was an anti-Stalinist party that wanted the revolution to be 'continued, not watered down'.  It had links with the ILP in Britain and Orwell had had joined them after being given a letter of introduction by Fenner Brockway.
Granville Williams (former Editor of 'Free Press') argued that Orwell had been committed to a classless, egalitarian society to the very end.  His attachment to socialism was undiminished.  But he was appropriated by the right during the Cold War.  They used Orwell to bolster their argument that socialism inevitably led to totalitarianism.
Les Hurst (Orwell Society) noted that, despite attacks from the Communist arty, even in the 1930s many people wanted to read Orwell.  There was 'so much reality in what he wrote.'
The final speaker, Quitin Kopp, spoke movingly about his father, George Kopp, who was Orwell's POUM commander in Spain.  George Kopp went to Spain to fight fascism and did so bravely.
However he was then imprisoned by the NKVD in appalling conditions.

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