Tell Tale Theatre are delighted to announce their latest production will be a theatrical adaptation of George Orwell’s classic Animal Farm; an allegorical and dystopian novel, published in England in 1945.

It would be hard to over-estimate the lasting impact of Orwell’s fantastic setting of a ‘proletarian revolution’ in an English farm where the animals – led by the pigs – organize their collective strength to overthrow the humans, but end up with another dictatorship.

Written at the end of a war against fascist Germany – fought in partnership with the socialist dictatorship of Stalin’s Soviet Union – the message in Orwell’s story carried heavy warnings, made even more explicit three years later with his publication of ‘Nineteen Eighty Four’ which Tell Tale Theatre performed to sell-out crowds in 2010.

Tell Tale Theatre recently received its first funding from the B.B.C. Performing Arts Fund which will support the production, and will enable Animal Farm to tour local secondary schools, working with young people to explore the novel as audience members and participants in Tell Tale workshops. The adaptation promises to combine drama, film and live music.

The Tell Tale team will be working alongside award-winning writer Laurence Wilson to create their own theatrical adaptation of this world famous book. Laurence Wilson’s credits include Lost Monsters (Everyman), Blackberry Trout Face (20 Stories High) and Tiny Volcanoes (Everyman), and he will lead the Tell Tale team through an exciting collaborative and experimental writing process to create a new theatrical adaptation of Orwell’s political fairy tale.

Laurence Wilson commented: “I jumped at the chance to work with Tell Tale Theatre, because they are a company who are making a name for themselves with their bold, inventive and deeply relevant theatre productions and I wanted to be part of that name.”

Director Emma Whitley is delighted to be back, after maternity leave, “This project marks a real turning point for Tell Tale. The generous support of the B.B.C. has made it possible for us to build upon what is already an exceptional team. With the skill of an outstanding local writer, the talent and passion of our amazing cast and crew and the unwavering support of our ever-loyal audience, we hope our version Animal Farm will be our most accomplished production yet.” 

Venue and ticketing information coming soon.

Director: Emma Whitley, Writer: Laurence Wilson

Producer and Assistant Director: Leanne Jones