Warnings called for on show

First, a stage adaptation of 1984 left Broadway reeling. Now, Australian audiences are having ‘‘ungood’’ reactions too.

Earlier this week, there were reports the stage adaption by British directors Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan had left people fainting, throwing up and even screaming for mercy.

Now, it has been confirmed that Australian audiences have been having a similar reaction to the production’s notorious torture scenes.

A spokeswoman told Fairfax Media some audience members have fainted during the Australian tour, which is a co-production between the State Theatre Company of South Australia and the Sydney Theatre Company.

‘‘We have had a couple of people faint across almost 40 performances playing to about 35,000 people,’’ she said.

‘‘Audiences have by-and-large loved the show, which has received great word-of-mouth and great reviews. We have had a couple of negative comments about the simulated violence, but nothing untoward.’’

One woman who saw the play said she was ‘‘too scared to move’’.

‘‘I recently saw this in Melbourne and have since sent a query to the Australian promoters asking about warnings for those with heart conditions, epilepsy, etc, due to the loud noise and the lighting,’’ she told Fairfax Media.

‘‘It was honestly 90 mins of torture for me and I was literally too scared to move – just hiding in my seat. Whilst this show is still touring, I strongly suggest they have clear warnings!!’’

The show is recommended for mature audiences and warns viewers of ‘‘theatrical haze and lighting ... loud effects, the use of blood, and acts of simulated violence’’.

And, despite the play being too grisly for some, audiences are lapping it up at the box office.

The play’s sold out Sydney run – starring Tom Conroy and Ursula Mills – opens at the Roslyn Packer Theatre on June 28, before moving onto Canberra and Perth in July and August.