Animal Farm might have been written 80 years ago, but our troubled times make it perfect for a revival as Tatty Hennessy’s innovative adaptation of George Orwell’s dystopian classic comes to Leeds Playhouse in March.
Orwell’s timeless fable of how power corrupts revolves around a group of exploited animals who rebel against their human farmer-tyrant and take control of the land that they live on. They hope to create a world where they can be equal, happier and free but as power shifts and a new leader emerges things start to go badly wrong.
Amy Leach directs Tianah Hodding (Clover), Shakeel Kimotho (Mollie), Robin Morrissey (Snowball), David Nellist (Benjamin), Tachia Newall (Napoleon), Gabriel Paul (Boxer), Em Prendergast (Milo), Everal A Walsh (Old Major), Farshid Rokey (Minty), Brydie Service (Clara), Tom Simper (Squealer), Kaya Ulasli (Jones), and Joshua-Alexander Williams (Blue).
Animal Farm’s cast includes deaf and disabled performers, reflecting the production’s dedication to ensuring inclusion is an integral and celebrated part of the storytelling and creative process. Creative audio description will be available from the Stratford press night onwards, offering live, sensory-rich narratives for visually impaired audiences, and every performance will have integrated BSL, seamlessly weaving British Sign Language into the storytelling.
Animal Farm runs at Stratford East from Friday 7th February – Saturday 8th March 2025 before transferring to Leeds Playhouse and Nottingham Playhouse from Wednesday 2nd – Saturday 12th April 2025.
Animal Farm is the Quarry Theatre from 12th – 29th March 2025. Age 11+. Box office 0113 213 7700 or online www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk