Must-see new staging of George Orwell’s classic Animal Farm visits Bath’s Theatre Royal

A powerful new stage production of George Orwell’s satirical masterpiece Animal Farm is bound for Bath appearing at the Theatre Royal from Tuesday 1st to Saturday 5th March.

Image - Animal Farm, credit Manuel Harlan

Featuring a fourteen-strong ensemble cast and more than thirty beautifully detailed life-sized puppets, Animal Farm is adapted and directed by multi award-winning Robert Icke (The Doctor, Hamlet, Mary Stuart), whose version of Orwell’s 1984, co-adapted and directed with Duncan Macmillan, was a smash-hit in the West End and on Broadway. The dynamic and visually stunning production features puppetry designed and directed by Toby Olié, whose credits include War Horse, The Grinning Man and Goodnight Mister Tom, and design by four-time Olivier Award-winner Bunny Christie (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time).

The animals of Manor Farm drive out the farmer and run the farm themselves. A revolution. And then what? Then freedom. Every animal will be free. Old Major, the prize boar, calls the animals of Manor Farm together. He has had a strange dream of a better future.

First published in 1945, George Orwell’s world-famous, thought-provoking dystopian novel tells the story of a revolution and its aftermath. Re-imagined by some of UK theatre’s most talented creatives, Animal Farm combines captivating music and cinematic staging in a daring and contemporary take on a timeless fable.

The cast of Animal Farm includes Matthew Churcher, Darcy Collins, Ailsa Dalling, Elisa De Grey, Edie Edmundson, Jonathan Dryden Taylor, Michael Jean-Marain, Rayo Patel, Yana Penrose, Markus Schabbing, Sharon Sze, Matt Tait, Ben Thompson and Enrico D. Wey.

Robert Icke is a writer and director, whose recent productions include Children of Nora and Oedipus at Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, where he is Ibsen Artist in Residence, and where his new production Judas opens this April. His production of The Doctor, first seen at the Adelaide Festival and Almeida opens in the West End this June. His work while Associate Director at the Almeida until 2019, included adapting and directing The Wild Duck; Uncle Vanya; Mary Stuart, which also played the West End and toured to Bath’s Theatre Royal in 2018; Oresteia, also in the West End, for which he won an Olivier Award; and Orwell’s 1984, co-created with Duncan Macmillan, which appeared on Broadway, in the West End, and on international and national tours, including at the Theatre Royal Bath in 2015. 

Animal Farm reunites Robert Icke with multi award-winning production designer Bunny Christie, following their celebrated 2016 collaboration on The Red Barn at the National Theatre. Bunny’s theatre credits include many National Theatre productions, including creating After Life, which re-opened The Dorfman Theatre in June 2021. Bunny won Olivier and Tony Awards for Best Set Design for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, which was also staged in West End, on Broadway, and on worldwide and UK tour, including at the Theatre Royal Bath in 2015 and 2017. She also won Olivier Awards for The White Guard and A Streetcar Named Desire at the National Theatre and, most recently, for Company which appeared in the West End and on Broadway.

Toby Olié is a director, designer and puppeteer. He is also co-artistic director of Gyre & Gimble, a theatre company specialising in puppetry. Toby has directed productions for Shakespeare’s Globe, the National Theatre, Little Angel Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, and in the West End, where he was associate puppetry director for War Horse. His work as a puppetry designer and director has included productions for the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Ballet, Royal Opera House, Bristol Old Vic, Chichester Festival Theatre, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and in the West End. As a puppeteer he performed in the original production of War Horse at the National Theatre and the subsequent West End transfer; Venus and Adonis for RSC; Hospitalworks for Theatre-Rites and Angelo for Little Angel Theatre. 

George Orwell (1903 - 1950) was a novelist, essayist and critic best known for his novels Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four. Orwell’s work notoriously addressed major political movements of his times, including imperialism, fascism and communism. His other novels include Burmese Days, A Clergyman’s Daughter, Keep the Aspidistra Flying and Coming Up for Air. His non-fiction includes Down and Out in Paris and London, The Road to Wigan Pier and Homage to Catalonia.

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

Animal Farm appears at the Theatre Royal Bath from Tuesday 1st March to Saturday 5th March. Tickets are on sale at the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 and online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk