The increasingly common practice of several theatres combining to create a single show that then appears at each of the participating theatres - thus co-producing something they couldn't afford to do alone in these straightened theatrical times - continues apace next year as Bolton Octagon, Derby Theatre and Hull Truck Theatre present George Orwell's Animal Farm.
The drama is directed by the highly-regarded Iqbal Khan (East is East, Birmingham Rep and National Theatre; Tartuffe, Royal Shakespeare Company, and opening ceremony Commonwealth Games) and opens at the Octagon (February 1-24, 2024), before Derby (February 28-March 16) and Hull (March 27-April 13).
Orwell’s devastating satire about the corruption of power tells of the downtrodden animals of Manor Farm, who overthrow their master for what they imagine it is the beginning of a new life of freedom and equality. It's a set book and all three theatres will be hoping to attract school audiences.
The cast includes Samater Ahmed (Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet, Box Clever Theatre); Sam Black (Cyrano De Bergerac, Harold Pinter Theatre and BAM New York; Simon Stephen Presents, Royal Exchange); Amy Drake (Classic!, Hope Mill Theatre, Peter Pan, Octagon); Polly Lister (Jekyll and Hyde, Derby Theatre and Queens Theatre Hornchurch, One Man Two Guvnors, Octagon) ; Killian Macardle (Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle, Mischief Theatre), and Ida Regan (4 Walls, Derby Theatre, The Book Thief, Octagon).
Iqbal Khan said: “I’m so delighted to be back at the Octagon and working with this incredibly exciting company. I can hardly wait to explore this adaptation of the great parable with them.”