Review: Animal Farm at Octagon Theatre ‘brings Orwell’s dystopian masterpiece to life’

Octagon Theatre offers a small stage which is transformed by director, Iqbal Khan and his team, to create the bittersweet, dystopian world of Animal Farm to immerse ourselves in.

The stage last night was full of talent and each of the six cast members delivered far beyond their characters and received a massive applause at the end of the show.

Animal Farm follows farm animals who overthrow their human owner, Mr. Jones, taking control of the farm in hopes of creating a society where all animals are treated equally. The pigs Napoleon and Snowball, take charge of the farm and lead the revolution.

Animal Farm at Bolton Octagon

All of the cast gave fantastic performances, with Natalie Campbell’s being outstanding as she effortlessly transitions between her two contrasting roles.

As the bold Old Major, she commands the stage with a powerful presence, delivering her heavy monologue with a strong passion. In contrast, her portrayal of the gentle and innocent Clover is equally captivating as she masterfully captures the gradual transformation of Clover’s character, starting with a naïve demeanour that reflects the character’s lack of awareness.

As the play progresses, Campbell conveys Clover’s growing awareness of the moral conflicts around her, with subtle shifts in her voice and weary facial expressions drawing the audience into Clover’s increasingly conflicting thoughts, paining the audience as there feels like no escape.

Soroosh Lavasani as Snowball

Soroosh Lavasani’s portrayal of Snowball offers an assertive power with subtle hints of vulnerability, suggesting that even in a position of influence, Snowball feels a sense of intimidation or insecurity. Lavasani’s performance as Benjamin the Donkey is both hilarious and accurate, with his precise animal sounds and mannerisms being spot-on, he fully embraces the role of the cynical old donkey staggering on crutches.

Sam Black delivers a powerful performance as Boxer, bringing a bold Scottish accent to the character, and giving Boxer a distinct and memorable voice. Black’s portrayal of Boxer conveys strength and tireless work ethic which creates a cruel irony in how, despite Boxer’s dedication, his strength is ultimately exploited but he is too naïve to understand.

Olivia Chandler is recognised for her portrayal of Mollie, but what truly stood out to me was her impressive ability to transition seamlessly into various animals throughout the play. Chandler brings a fresh, fully committed energy to the character, immersing herself in the physicality of each animal she portrays. At one point, she even becomes a chicken, pecking at the paper with such dedication you couldn’t help but laugh.

Despite the darkness of the play’s themes, Chandler manages to inject moments of levity with her wittiness, providing a welcome contrast to the more intense moments, and earning laughs from the audience.

Ciaran Bagnall’s lighting and set design

Ciaran Bagnall’s lighting and set design are well executed, transforming the limited space of the small stage into an immersive environment. You feel the whole stage being utilised, from the animal masks floating down from the ceiling to the revolving doors manipulating the physical space and having font written on the doors which cleverly reappear under certain light. Bagnall’s lighting design plays a crucial role in shaping the atmosphere, with the gazing spotlights guiding the audience’s attention and dictating the emotional tone of each scene.

The lighting transitions seamlessly from a soft, ambient glow that evokes a sense of calm to intense, sharply focused beams that create an almost suffocating sense of aggression. These drastic shifts in lighting heighten the eerie, dystopian mood of the production, immersing the audience in the world of Animal Farm.

Su Newell’s costume design embraces a minimalist approach, focusing on the symbolic power of simplicity. Each character is distinctly defined by the animal mask, which serves as both a visual cue and an emblem of their animalistic traits. The minimalist nature of the costumes allows the actors’ performances to take centre stage, while the masks themselves become powerful tools for conveying the primal aspects of each persona.

Movement Director Shelley Eva Haden’s work truly shines, as each character seamlessly transitions between different animals, brought to life through nuanced physicality. From animalistic head tilts to body gestures and feet stomping like hooves, Haden’s direction ensures that these transitions feel fluid and instinctive, allowing the actors to embody their animal personas with impressive authenticity. These carefully crafted movements enhance the storytelling, adding depth to each character and reinforcing the play’s thematic exploration of identity and transformation.

Having read George Orwell’s Animal Farm, it’s clear that this adaptation does the novel justice, maintaining its relevance even 80 years later and resonates just as strongly today as it did when the book was first published.

As the show follows heavy themes, it would appeal more to a mature audience however I would highly recommend going if you are interested in seeing some talented actors perform a classic.

Tickets for Animal Farm at Octagon Theatre Bolton

Animal Farm will be at Octagon Theatre Bolton between Wednesday 22nd January till Saturday 1st February.

You can get tickets by clicking here