Animal Farm, UK Tour Review (2025)
Animal Farm production image. Photo by Pamela Raith
Written by Laura for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Age Guidance: 11+ This production contains: Haze effects and strobe lighting
Based on George Orwell’s classic dystopian novel of the same name, Octagon Theatre Bolton and director Iqbal Khan bring the latest adaptation of this terrifying ‘Fairy tale’ to Curve’s Studio Theatre in Leicester this week.
The audience of students and families arrive at the theatre to a minimalist set, which is surrounded by flashing CCTV cameras and wirework headdresses hanging from the ceiling. This stripped back staging provides the audience with food for thought even before the play begins.
Animal Farm follows the animals of Manor Farm as they overthrow farmer Mr Jones as he parades around the farm with his lantern and the ring of light it provides. Each animal on the farm represents a different historical political figure, such as Stalin and Marx. The actors create atmosphere and tension through heavy breathing, animalistic sounds, and carefully choreographed movements.
The narrative is almost poetic as the actors depict multiple animals on the farm, and due to the minimalist scenery and costumes, the focus is always on them. Sam Black, who plays Boxer, seemed to be an audience favourite, both as an actor and also as the character he was playing. His portrayal of one of the horses at the farm was particularly clever and the ending of his story felt particularly poignant.
As the animals take over the farm and try to work out who is in charge, the six commandments are declared and provide the audience with similarities to today’s world. This production is extremely timely given the events that are happening around the world at the current time. The production feels modern and contemporary but also explores the themes of destruction and war from the past and the present day. The commandments change throughout the duration of the show and this mirrors the political parties of today who bend and twist the rules.
All the actors are incredibly skilled and talented at not only acting as animals but also as acting as multiple characters with varying accents. I particularly enjoyed Soroosh Lavasani’s portrayal of Snowball and Natalia Campbell’s depiction of Clover. Director Iqbal Khan has specifically chosen cast members who are also activists in their own right, in order to provide a meaningful way to retell the story. Dry humour and commentary are provided throughout and there are even some points where audience participation is encouraged.
With the popularity of novels such as The Hunger Games and The Handmaid’s Tale becoming increasingly popular within the last 15 years, Animal Farm feels as important and popular today as it did when it was first written. The novel that brought George Orwell widespread acclaim continues to draw in large crowds to the theatre 80 years after the novel’s first publication, and tickets are pretty much sold out all week at Curve.
Animal Farm continues its run at Leicester’s Curve until Saturday 1st March 2025 before it moves to The Queen’s Theatre in Hornchurch, Perth Theatre and Concert Hall before concluding its tour in April at Liverpool Playhouse Theatre.
If you are looking for further productions and musicals at Leicester’s Curve then why not book tickets for Handbagged in March, Muriel’s Wedding throughout April and May or the family show The Addams Family during the Summer holidays? Find out more by visiting the Curve website.
★★★★
