NEWS: Cast and creative team announced for Animal Farm
10 December 2024
Nottingham Playhouse, Stratford East and Leeds Playhouse today announce the full cast and creative team for Animal Farm. Tatty Hennessy’s fresh adaptation of George Orwell’s dystopian classic explores loss of identity, the seductive allure of greed, and the corrupting nature of political power.
In the year Orwell’s political fable marks its 80th anniversary, Amy Leach directs Tianah Hodding (Clover), Shakeel Kimotho (Mollie), Robin Morrissey (Snowball), David Nellist (Benjamin), Tachia Newall (Napoleon), Gabriel Paul (Boxer), Em Prendergast (Milo), Everal A Walsh (Old Major), Farshid Rokey (Minty), Brydie Service (Clara), Tom Simper (Squealer), Kaya Ulasli (Jones) and Joshua-Alexander Williams (Blue).
Animal Farm runs at Nottingham Playhouse from Wednesday 2 – Saturday 12 April 2025. It opens at Stratford East on 7 February – 8 March, before visiting Leeds Playhouse from 12 – 29 March and then coming to Nottingham Playhouse.
Director Amy Leach said:
“I can’t wait to start exploring Orwell’s timeless fable with this incredible group of people. Their insights and energy will enable us to delve deeper into themes that relate to the unequal world we live in now, to the challenges we face when power goes unchecked, and unity is mired in division.
“Working together with these amazing actors on Tatty Hennessy’s fresh interpretation of this landmark allegorical story is going to be a real treat. Animal Farm might be celebrating its 80th anniversary, but our superb creative team and I are creating a recognisable and relatable industrial landscape for our cast to explore. It’s going to be a beautiful, challenging journey for us all.”
This Animal Farm features a cast that includes deaf and disabled performers, reflecting the production’s dedication to ensuring disability is an integral and celebrated part of the storytelling and creative process. Creative audio description will be available from press night onwards, offering live, sensory-rich narratives for visually impaired audiences and integrated BSL performances throughout, seamlessly weaving British Sign Language into the storytelling to ensure d/Deaf audiences experience the production as an organic part of the action.
The creative team is completed by Set & Costume Designer: Hayley Grindle; Lighting Designer: Jai Morjaria; Sound Designer: Khalil Madovi; Movement Director: Kane Husbands; Casting Director: Lucy Casson CDG; Fight Director: Kate Waters; Assistant Director: Jordi M. Carter; Deaf Creative/BSL Consultant: Stephen Collins; Audio Description Consultant: Vicky Ackroyd and Esther Irving; Integrated BSL Interpreter: Rachael Merry; Lead BSL Interpreter: Sarah Cox; Production Manager: Mick Cassidy and Company Stage Director: Steve Cressy.
When a group of exploited animals rebel against their human farmer-tyrant and take control of the land that they live on, they hope to create a world where they can be equal, happier and free. As power shifts and a new leader emerges, they soon face the age-old question: is the grass truly greener on the other side?
Presented by Leeds Playhouse and Stratford East in association with Nottingham Playhouse.