A FORMER Gazette journalist has released a radio play inspired by iconic author George Orwell.

Neil D’arcy-Jones, 48, from Colchester, launched Packing Shed Film and Theatre in 2017 and it has now released a radio play, called 1954.

Inspired by a specific line in George Orwell’s classic novel 1984 about an atomic bomb dropping on Colchester, the script re-imagines the town’s past.

Set 30 years before the events in 1984, Neil’s writings follow a Colchester MP who becomes Prime Minister and explores how he is linked to the fictional explosion.

The plot then descends into a dystopian nightmare, which Neil suggests isn’t too removed from the reality we live in today.

He said: “The most incredible thing about writing something like 1954 is starting with the challenge of creating a world that could turn into 1984 and writing it as close to what we could imagine it might be, and then scarily realising the current world is not all that far off.

“That’s why George Orwell was a genius. He pretty much knew how the future was going to turn out.

“1984 is basically a warning from the past to change our future which we’ve basically been ignoring for the past 70 years.”

The idea for 1954 came about late last year when actor and writer Patrick Marlowe and Neil were working together on a show about ghost stories.

After brainstorming ideas and fleshing out a script, the pair decided the best way to tell their imaginative story would be to present it as an audio play.

Neil said: “Doing it as a radio play, I believe, is the purest way of telling this kind of story, especially when you don’t have a £1million budget.

“But we are hoping Netflix are listening and we’re always open to offers. It would make a great series in the style of House of Cards or The Thick of It.”

1954 features Essex actors such as Richard Bland, Tim Freeman and Kate Milner as well as music from At Swefn’s Edge.

The podcast series currently has two episodes and additional episodes will be released every Friday during the Essex Book Festival.

To stream or download 1954, visit packingshedtheatrecompany.co.uk/1954/