Review: Animal Farm at The Bolton Octagon is ‘thought provoking, powerful and a triumph’

Animal Farm, a captivating adaptation of George Orwell’s 1945 classic novel of the same name, has been brought to life by Ian Wooldridge and directed by Iqbal Khan for the Octagon Theatre in Bolton.

This rendition remains faithful to Orwell’s timeless allegory of power, corruption, and the Russian Revolution.

Animal Farm at the Bolton Octagon

In Animal Farm, a group of animals overthrow their human owner to establish their own utopia.

However, their revolution is spearheaded by a trio of tyrannical pigs, who assume leadership and quickly become a corrupt and oppressive force over the other farm animals, serving as a critique of totalitarian regimes and the nature of revolution.

As someone who studied the novel in GCSE English Literature way back in 2016, I was excited to return to this tragic and all too real tale about tyranny that The Times writer A.N. Wilson describes as “one of the greatest works of literature of the twentieth century”.

I am also happy to say that I was delighted with my experience of Animal Farm!

Through thought-provoking storytelling and emotionally resonant performances, the creative team behind this new adaptation offers an immersive and moving experience that celebrates Orwell’s dystopian yet humane vision of society that can resonate with audiences of all ages.

Lighting and set design

Lighting & Set Designer Ciaran Bagnall smartly utilises rotating wall panels that aided the actors in moving on and off the set seamlessly without disrupting the flow of the scene.

The set itself is lined with rustic and well-worn wooden and steel panels that help transport the audience into the heat of Orwell’s allegorical farmyard, representing the dilapidated nature of Manor Farm prior to the animals’ revolution.

With a small cast of six actors, the production team had to figure out a way to make the farm feel grander, with more bustling wildlife. So, animal heads – expertly crafted from what seems to be wiring and paper mache – were hung from the rafters.

Along with this, the sound design from Gerry Marsden helps bring the wider world of Animal Farm to life with a cacophony of animal noises that immerse you in the setting.

The animal heads are also utilised in the costume design from Su Newell, acting as headpieces that help distinguish the characters from each other.

Although, I think had the ensemble had one additional actor, Su could have gone a step further with the costumes, supplying the cast with outfits that represented the unique personalities of the lead animals, rather than the somewhat simple jumpsuits we end up with.

An incredible cast

Without a doubt, what really brought the fantastical world of Animal Farm to life is the cast.

Movement Director Shelley Eva Haden worked amazingly with the ensemble to help them create captivating and realistic animalistic performances as they trotted, bounced and slinked across the stage.

They bring a much-needed nuance to their roles that went beyond simply making animal noises.

While I initially struggled to separate the trio of pigs – Snowball (Samater Ahmed), Squealer (Killian Macardle) and Napoleon (Ida Regan) – from each other, the same can’t be said for the horses Boxer and Mollie.

Played by Sam Black and Amy Drake respectively, the two of them are a dynamic duo in the show, their characters played so distinctively from the rest of the cast and delivered some of the funniest lines in spectacular fashion.

The idea of a group of socialist animals overthrowing their human master, Mr Jones, is admittedly a funny concept, so the added layer of humour in the script was a pleasant surprise for the audience.

Ultimately the ensemble deserves praise for delivering powerful performances that reflect the severity of the situation they find themselves in following their revolution.

A faithful recreation of Orwell’s classic

At its core, Animal Farm is a timeless allegory of the Russian Revolution in 1917 and its eventual decline into tyranny, exploring themes of power, corruption and the cyclical nature of revolution.

Ian Wooldridge as story adapter

Perhaps what I enjoyed most about this adaptation is the clear adoration that Story Adapter Ian Wooldridge and Director Iqbal Khan have for George Orwell’s novel and how this is reflected perfectly on stage.

The entire cast and crew understood that Animal Farm is a parable about the dangers of unchecked authority.

After the animals overthrow their human oppressors, the audience is then confronted with uncomfortable truths about human nature itself and the fragility of social structures built by an exploitative government.

And despite receiving flashbacks of my own experience of Animal Farm during GCSE English, debating whether a horse wanting a blue ribbon in her mane made her a class traitor or not, Ian’s adaptation is a triumph in storytelling.

A thought-provoking and emotionally resonant theatrical experience, both adults and children will find something to appreciate in this new take on Orwell’s classic tale of corruption and power.

Animal Farm is showing at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton from 1 to 24 February 2024.

You can book your tickets here.