Leeds Playhouse- until 29 March 2025
Reviewed by Katie Brewerton
4****
Based on the George Orwell novel, Animal Farm comes to Leeds. Adapted by Tatty Hennessy and directed by Amy Leach, with an excellent cast this play is sure to keep you entertained.
Animal Farm begins with the animals of Manor Farm taking control and over throwing the farmer Jones (Kaya Ulasli). They put together their own 7 commandments to live by and hope to run the farm for themselves. Snowball (Robin Morrissey) seems to genuinely want what’s best for the animals, but after a disagreement with his comrade Napoleon (Tachia Newall) Snowball is driven from the farm to make way for a new leader. The animals work to create their own food and heat, but they soon realise it might not be as easy as they thought. With the manipulative Squealer (Tom Simper) running things behind the scenes cracks begin to show in the friendships they initially established and the commandments begin to change ultimately becoming ‘All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others’ the pigs eventually take over the farm and become more and more like their predecessors.
This is a fantastic adaption with the stage at Leeds Playhouse, the front row is level with the audience, adding to the feeling of being part of the show. With a ‘junk yard’ type style to the staging, rather than costumes the cast are each stamped with the animal they’re playing on their person. with metal cages and a glass farmhouse above, cleverly showing a clear difference in status between those outside and those in the farmhouse.
This adaption also incorporates British sign language and is available with audio description every night helping the production to become more accessible and available to more people.
With political parallels intended by Orwell in 1945 still relevant 80 years later, this thought provoking tale of tyranny and rebellion will beg the question is change always for the better?