wilde's co-star tom sturridge plays the main character, winston. >> 95% of this text was written in 1949is play was conceived five years ago in nottingham, england, way before american politics has shaped the way it has right now. >> sure. >> so when people come into this space, they bring all of the things, the burdens of the world on their shoulders, but it's their interpretation, not us presenting something to them. >> when this play was originally adapted, it was mostly about the nsa and about, you know, the revelations of snowden and what people were suddenly realizing about how they were being monitored and what we are willing to give up in the name of security. >> reporter: part of the play takes place behind the scenes. >> this is the little room where we retreat to during the show four times. and we run from the stage back here. everything here is then broadcast live out to the theater. the idea is that winston and julia think they're in a private place. >> reporter: but the audience outside is watching it all. complicit in the surveillance. >> the rats are everywhere these days