Animal Farm
"Ed Stambollouian directs with a consummate eye for detail, ensuring every glance and gesture comes freighted with compelling subtext."
★★★★★ - The Stage
"A true powerhouse of a production" - Exeunt
Award-winning political playwright Tatty Hennessy (A Hundred Words for Snow, F*Off) adapts George Orwell’s classic as an allegory for our own times exploring themes of revolution, the price of sovereignty and power with humour and sharp wit.
When the downtrodden animals of a farm overthrow their master to run the show themselves, they imagine it is the beginning of a life of independence and equality. But gradually a cunning, ruthless élite among them start to take control. Soon the other animals discover that they are not all as equal as they thought, and find themselves hopelessly ensnared as one form of tyranny is replaced with another and independence isn’t what they were promised it would be.
Directed with playful invention by Ed Stambollouian (Pinter at the Pinter, West End), this Made in Northampton production, in association with Kneehigh Theatre, will star Britain’s best young performing talent from the 2020 National Youth Theatre REP Company.
The production is a collaboration between Royal & Derngate and the National Youth Theatre, whose renowned alumni rank amongst Britain’s greatest actors including Northampton’s Matt Smith, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Helen Mirren and Daniel Day Lewis.
Backstage NYT graduates have gone on to work in key roles at the world's biggest theatres and events including Olympic Ceremonies, award-wining large-scale theatre productions and global tours of the world's biggest music artists.
Cast and Creative Team
Adapted by Tatty Hennessy
Set & Costume Designer - Jasmine Swan
Lighting Designer - Zoe Spurr
Choreographer - Vicki Igbokwe
Composer - John Elliott
Sound Designer - Xana
Musical Director - Jordan Clarke
Vocal Coach - Marcia Carr
Production Manager - Ian Smith
Deputy Production Manager - Jack Greenyer
Company Stage Manager - Claire Risseeuw
Tour Manager - Dougie Wilson
Assistant Director - Masha Kevinovna
Design Assistant (NYT Member) - Ellie Roser
Sound Assistant (NYT Member) - Daniel Mitchell
Lighting Assistant (NYT Member) Ben Sugrue
Covid Safety Officers - Andy Patterson and Anthony Papamichael
Deputy Stage Manager (NYT Member) - Alix Nicholson
Assistant Stage Manager (NYT Member) - Samantha Galbraith
Assistant Stage Manager (NYT Member) - Emily Dimino
Production Sound and Mixer - Hope Brennan
Lighting Operator (NYT member) - Ed Lawson
Costume Supervisor - Jennie Quirk
Assistant Costume Supervisor and Wardrobe Manager - Anna Edwards-McConway
Wardrobe Assistant (NYT member) - Amy Yeates
Cast
Tiajna Amayo - Petunia
Francesca Amewudah-Rivers - Benjamin
Will Atiomo - Boxer
Ishmel Bridgeman - Blue
Matilda Rae - Squealer
Connor Crawford - Minimus/Farmer Jones
Alexandra Hannant - Old Major
Jack Humphrey - Minty
James-Eden Hutchinson - Milo
Tife Kusoro - Nutmeg
Jack Matthew - Napoleon
Nkhanise Phiri - Clara
Jadie Rose Hobson - Tess
Will Stewart - Mollie
Adeola Yemitan - Clover
Ben Wilson - Snowball
Photos by Ali Wright.