THEATRE REVIEW: Animal Farm - The Lowry Theatre, Salford.

George Orwell’s 'Animal Farm' has been brought to the stage by The Children’s Theatre Partnership in association with Birmingham Rep, and it stopped at The Lowry in Salford from Tue 22 – Sat 26 March 2022! This world-famous fable tells the story of a revolution and its aftermath. This show is a dynamic, daring and contemporary take on a timeless story. 

The play follows a farm of animals getting fed-up with their master, Farmer Jones (Jonathan Dryden Taylor) so they take control and kick their master out. Once they are free, their quality of life on the farm really improves and they are in hope of a future with less work, better education and more food. However, trouble begins as the pigs, Napoleon and Snowball, fight for the hearts and minds of the other animals on the farm. Napoleon seizes power by force and ends up exploiting the animals just as Farmer Jones had done. Will they ever get the Animal Farm they dreamed of? 

As the show opens, you are instantly drawn in to the incredible life-size puppets that grace the stage. The show is brought to life by 14 puppeteers, who create realistic movements by use of physical theatre, small gestures and mouth movements of the farm animals. The animals also sniffle, whimper and snort between their lines, bringing depth and realism to them. It is clear just how talented these puppeteers are, they keep the pace moving. There is actually only one human character in this show!   

The standout scenes for me were the battles; where miniature puppets were used to show chases around the farm yard, slow-motion movement was used to show detail within fast-paced action, and the sound and lighting effects really lifted the scenes to create a really exciting atmosphere.  

I was not familiar with the story of 'Animal Farm' before I headed to The Lowry to watch this show, so I enjoyed watching it with no pre-knowledge. However, I think the beginning of the play would have really benefited from showing the struggle the animals were going through for longer, giving more meaning to the fights and battles to follow for the next 80 minutes. 

Humour is peppered throughout this show, especially by the 9 incredible off-stage voice actors. The birds and cat really amused the audience, getting laughs every time they were on stage! This show is directed by Robert Icke, aimed at children from 11 upwards, so this comedy would certainly be welcome for this young audience between the darker scenes.  

Animal Farm is touring the UK throughout 2022! - https://animalfarmonstage.co.uk/  

Reviewer - Nicky Jones

on - 26.3.22