TUESDAY 8 – SATURDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2022

ANIMAL FARM By George Orwell

A Children’s Theatre Partnership production in association with Birmingham Rep.

Award-winning writer and director Robert Icke reimagines George Orwell’s world-famous fable of revolution and its aftermath in a daring, dynamic and contemporary new production. Designed and created by a world-class creative team, this brand-new adaptation features over thirty life-sized puppets to tell the timeless story. The animals of Manor Farm drive out the farmer and run the farm themselves. A revolution. And then what? Then freedom. Every animal will be free.

Old Major, the prize boar, calls the animals of Manor Farm together. He has had a strange dream of a better future. Animal Farm is directed by Robert Icke, whose version of 1984 (co-adapted and directed with Duncan Macmillan) was a smash-hit in the West End and on Broadway. His awards include two Evening Standard ‘Best Director’ Awards, the Critics’ Circle Award and he is the youngest ever winner of the Olivier Award for ‘Best Director’ with his adaptation of Oresteia. This brand-new production features puppetry by Toby Olié. He originally performed as ‘Joey the Horse’ in the original West End production of War Horse and has since founded his own puppetry focused theatre company, Gyre and Gimble, producing puppets for shows including Peter Pan and Hansel and Gretel at the National and the new musical The Grinning Man (Bristol Old Vic).

The project marks Toby’s third time collaborating with the Children’s Theatre Partnership after Goodnight Mister Tom (West End and UK Tour) and Running Wild (Chichester Festival Theatre, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre & UK tour).

The set and costume designer for Animal Farm is four-time Olivier award-winner Bunny Christie. Her recent successes include Company (Gielgud Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bridge Theatre) and the record-breaking international hit A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. She has recently won an OBE for her services to the theatre industry. Animal Farm also reunites Icke and Christie following their celebrated 2016 collaboration on The Red Barn at the National Theatre.

George Orwell (1903 – 1950) was a novelist, essayist and critic best known for his novels Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four. Orwell’s work notoriously addressed major political movements of his times, including imperialism, fascism, and communism. Orwell’s other novels include Burmese Days, A Clergyman’s Daughter, Keep the Aspidistra Flying and Coming Up for Air.

Children’s Theatre Partnership (CTP) was established in 2010 to produce and tour bold, ambitious, and imaginative theatre for young people, families, and schools. CTP aims to excite and engage new and diverse audiences, often introducing them to the theatre for the first time, bringing communities to their local theatres, inspiring a life-long love of theatre, and supporting the UK’s most talented artists.

Venue: Cambridge Arts Theatre, 6 St Edward’s Passage, Cambridge, CB2 3PJ
Dates: Tuesday 8 – Saturday 12 February
Tuesday – Saturday 7.30pm &
Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday, 2.30pm
£25/£35/£45*
Child/ Student: £20*
*All ticket prices include a £3 per ticket booking fee
Pre-show talk: Tuesday 8 February, 6.30pm
Age guidance: 11+ (Contains strong language)
Box Office: 01223 503333 / www.cambridgeartstheatre.com