Animal Farm at The Lowry

Dark, gritty and incredibly clever, the animals are staging a revolution at The Lowry this March.

With startling universal themes, this dynamic new theatrical production of George Orwell’s Animal Farm is given ever more meaning and relevance in light of current world news events. This eagerly anticipated show will visit The Lowry on its 2022 UK tour.

Reimagined by an outstanding creative team, Animal Farm will be directed by Robert Icke (who came to national attention with his stage adaptation of Orwell’s 1984), with set and costume design by the multi-award winning Bunny Christie (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Company, Ink, Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) and puppetry by Toby Olié (War Horse, Running Wild and Goodnight Mr Tom). The top-notch creative team is completed with sound and music by Tom Gibbons and lighting design by Jon Clark.

Orwell’s allegorical masterpiece tells the story of the Russian revolution and its aftermath.

Published in 1945, Orwell’s allegorical masterpiece tells the story of the Russian revolution and its aftermath. Taking the structure of an anthropomorphised farmyard fable, a group of animals lead a revolt against their human masters, only to find their idealist post-human society fall into authoritarian disrepair. Since its publication, the story has resonated throughout history – though, perhaps its message is more powerful at a time where Vladimir Putin appears to have stepped into the starring role of Napoleon the pig, the aggressive and autocratic leader of Animal Farm.

When wise and persuasive Old Major, the prize boar, calls the animals of Manor Farm together, he tells them of his strange dream of a better future. Driving out the farmer, the animals of Manor Farm intend to run the farm themselves. It’s an uprising. A revolution. Every animal will be free.

 

Designed with exceptional detail, the show features over 30 life-sized animal puppets.

Bringing spectacle and lots of imagination, the timeless story is enacted through ingenious puppetry and the animals’ words are spoken by a group of actors. Bringing the famous farmyard to life and designed with exceptional detail, the show features over 30 life-sized animal puppets – from cart-horses to tiny birds – all controlled by a talented gang of just 14 operators.

Director Robert Icke is no stranger to adaptations of Orwell’s work – his previous stage production of dystopian novel 1984 (which he co-adapted and directed alongside Duncan Macmillan) earned him his first Olivier Award nomination for Best New Play in 2014. Impressively, this production also sees Icke reunite with four-time Olivier-Award winning designer Bunny Christie following their celebrated collaboration on The Red Barn at the National Theatre.

Recommended for ages 11+, this daring and contemporary production of Orwell’s satirical novella offers a handsome and timely take on a well-studied literary classic.

George Orwell’s Animal Farm is presented by Children’s Theatre Partnership (CTP) in association with Birmingham Rep at The Lowry. CTP creates bold and imaginative theatre for young people, engaging new audiences and aiming to inspire a life-long love of theatre.