Animal Farm is a stage adaptation of the famous story written by George Orwell, in which the exploited animals of Manor Farm overthrow the farmer in an attempt to win freedom for all animals. However, an elite cadre of animals gradually takes control of the farm, and the other animals realise they are not all as equal as they expected to be. It has been adapted for the stage by Ian Wooldridge and this political satire and allegory about Soviet communism was performed brilliantly by six actors: Samater Ahmed, Sam Black, Amy Drake, Polly Lister, Killian Macardle and Ida Regan, who all played different roles and vividly brought Orwell’s enduring tale about the corrupting effect of power to life.
A booming voiceover begins the show – six characters ominously enter the stage portraying the different animals of the farm, one of whom, the Major, also known as Willingdon Beauty, announces to his comrades that he wished to share his dream. He then delivers a stirring speech in which he declares his plan for a rebellion against the owner of the farm, Mr. Jones, and other humans to win freedom for all animals. This was well executed by Polly Lister, whose voice was crystal clear, and had the audience gripped from the start.
Three days later, the Major perishes, but his speech still lives in the animal’s memories and gives them a new outlook on life. The three most intelligent animals on the farm – Napoleon (Ida Regan), Snowball (Samater Ahmed) and Squealer (Killian Macardle), all pigs – begin teaching the animals a new system of thought – animalism – and seven commandments are issued: whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy, whatever goes upon four is a friend; no animal shall wear clothes; no animal shall sleep in a bed; no animal shall drink alcohol; no animal shall kill any other animal; and all animals are equal.
The animals carry out all the work on the farm themselves, but one in particular stands out, Boxer the horse, played by Sam Black, who is very convincing, wearing a horse head type helmet and making neighing sounds, which he kept up for the duration. He was also humorous and brought an element of comedy to a serious play, which the audience enjoyed. Other animals were portrayed using helmets and there were some very convincing chicken noises too.
Soon enough, the working hours begin to change and Snowball and Napoleon announce that they’ll be looking after the farm and gradually begin to assert control over the other animals.
A few scenes later, all the animals come on stage when the farm is attacked by humans and Snowball fights bravely, killing some and forcing the rest to flee. The fighting scenes are amazing, with dramatic music and dark lighting used to create tension. None of the scenes dragged and the action moved swiftly along.
Clover (Polly Lister) becomes curious about Mollie’s frequent disappearances, accusing her of allowing a human to stroke her. That is the last we see of her.
Snowball calls a meeting and declares his plan for a new way of working that will make the farm a better place: he wants to build a windmill. However, Napoleon disagrees and allegedly has him killed. The tide begins to turn after this as Napoleon and his comrade Squealer begin to take tighter control of the farm. Ida Regan and Killian Macardle are very persuasive as the two would-be tyrants, and their speeches are powerful. They even engage the audience at points, which added more humour to this otherwise harrowing story. Napoleon steals Snowball’s idea for a windmill and claims it as his own.
Towards the end of the play, the pigs begin to sleep in the farmhouse, learn how to walk on two legs (already being on two legs, the actors use stilts to demonstrate this), execute other animals, drink alcohol and wear clothes. They also change the seven commandments in their favour to suit their new circumstances and begin cooperating with neighbouring farms. Most of the animals end up dead (including Boxer) until there are only a couple left who remember the rebellion and its original purpose – Clover and Benjamin the donkey (Samater Ahmed).
The show closes with all the actors on stage and the spotlight on Napoleon, who delivers a speech, just like the Major did at the start. He declares that the farm will no longer be named Animal Farm. Henceforth, it will be known by its original name of Manor Farm, thereby symbolising how nothing has changed as a result of the rebellion.
So much is achieved on a small set and with a small number of actors. However, it’s executed perfectly, and it follows the book almost word for word. These days, you almost expect something like this to be foisting woke gobbledegook on the audience. But, no, this adaptation is faithful to the original and the message is surely as poignant today as it ever was. The lines are delivered coherently, the long speeches especially; performance were flawless and engaging and well-pitched. Animal Farm at Hull New Truck Theatre is highly recommended and a great way to spend an evening.
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Well I am impressed with this article. It gives a very thorough and up to date overview of the situation in the Netherlands regarding the farming crisis;
”The only way out for farmers seems to be to accept the offer by the government to sell their ownings for 120 percent of the value with a restriction not to be allowed to start another farm within the EU area. Many farmers still refuse the offers made. ‘Even when they pay 400 percent of the value I won’t leave, my son is going to be the next generation farmer.’
The draft agreement does not present information on effects on farmers’ income and consumers’ behavior. The advisory report from Wageningen University and Research (WUR) writes that they cannot advise on this topic as they do not have the information. With the reduction of cattle, farming land and a transition to regenerative farming they will be able to meet the goals on climate change. However, 30,000 jobs will be lost and €6.5 billion of added value.
Dutch citizens will be financing the €28 billion climate plan by extra taxes on food prices for example on milk products, meat, compounds for vegetation protection, and fertilizers while inflation is high and purchases are expensive.
Also, a prepared law for zero taxes on vegetables and fruits to promote healthy foods supposed to pass for January 2024 seems to make a U-turn. According to a report from SEO Economic Research it will be too complex and too expensive and it is not sure the introduction of this law will promote health. However, keeping taxes on vegetables and fruit will generate €550-950 million in income for government.”
https://brownstone.org/articles/the-future-of-traditional-farming-and-healthcare-in-the-netherlands/
Will the changes in Government help bring a halt to this madness ?
Not holding my breath, Freddy. The opposition want Rutte out immediately and a caretaker PM installed until elections take place in the autumn. I’ll keep my eyes peeled for any updates in the meantime. Also hopefully JaneDoe might be able to give her insights as I don’t follow politics too closely tbh, but I expect whoever fills Rutte’s shoes to still have the Agenda 2030 requirements very much as their objective.
Yes the WEF maniacs will take some stopping .
https://www.bmj.com/content/378/bmj.o1731/rr-2
This may be a game changer?
Turns out Pfizer changed it’s manufacturing process between the trial and roll-out.
Change in DNA template for the mRNA and change in LNP manufacturing.
The ‘roll-out’ vaccine was only tested on 250 people.
There is now a question about Informed Consent, as the product changed and the information was based on a different product.
Interesting times.
my apologies if this is old news, I only came across this over the weekend.
Andrew Bridgen and Neil Oliver tried to debate the subject with a doctor on GB News. All the doctor could do was insult people. I’m glad he is not my doctor: –
https://rumble.com/v2yw4ac-andrew-bridgen-mp-and-dr-david-lloyd-discuss-the-pfizer-covid-vaccine.html
It’s often been pointed out but just imagine a non freak person making a similar speech !!!
The sad thing is that the good bishop made a reasonable pastoral point, that in teaching that God is our Father, one has to be aware of those whose earthly fathers or stepfathers have let them down.
But that is a completely different matter from tossing words like “abusive patriarchy” around. The fact that the church of England’s bishops are a disgrace to the gospel doesn’t entail that episcopacy itself is a bad thing, but merely that earthly authority of all kinds can be abused.
Funnily enough, one seldom hears bishops taking a similarly apologetic line on abuse when 1 Peter 2:25 refers to Jesus as “the shepherd and bishop of your souls.”
On the subject of LTNs:
– Eh, what? ‘radicalised groups of people against cycling‘? Where’d he pull that idea from? (No doubt the same place too many government (all levels) ideas are pulled from). I used to work in Southwark twenty-something years ago; some cyclists were a real danger to pedestrians then. LTNs aren’t the cause of people’s disapproval of some cyclists.
– ‘…risk stoking opposition to broader aims such as net zero‘. So, not all bad then?
Substitute ‘Terf’ for the J word (rhymes with huw) and you can see that we’ve been in this situation before. It doesn’t end well.
On a more general note, H L Mencken pointed out in the 1920s that pragmatic politicians inflame anxieties about *or even create a perception of imminent serious harm from) “imaginary hobgoblins”, and then claim success when the harm does not materialise. Eventually the populace realises it has lost power (by more authoritarian legislation) and money (by way of taxes needed to defeat the hobgoblin) and tries to restore the balance, possibly by armed conflict. However, the next generation repeats the process, albeit with different hobgoblins.
Interesting MD4CE meeting yesterday evening, exploring how to disrupt the narrative, presented by Jonathan Engler of HART.
He made some interesting observations about how some individuals on this side of the situation are inadvertently still supporting the narrative. He use Dr McCullough’s ongoing support for the need for pandemic preparedness as an example & some ATL articles on this site. Plus that articles written to counter what was published ATL re no flu in 2020 were denied publication. There were a lot of comments BTL regarding supporting the official limited hangout agenda.
Worth a watch: https://rumble.com/user/cbkovess
“The left’s war on correct grammer has betrayed the poor”
This excerpt is from the CEO of Coca-Cola,
talk about a grammatical word salad! this even has rocket and cold potato thrown in!
“We are keeping consumers at the centre of our innovation and marketing investments, while also leveraging our expertise in revenue growth management and execution.
“Our growth culture is leading to new approaches, more experimentation, and improved agility to drive growth and value for our stakeholders.”
And the translation of all that shyte is as follows:
Mr Quincey added: “There will be price increases across the world in 2023.
Well why didn’t you just say that?
I bet this guy could describe the inside of a ping pong ball using no less than a thousand words!
With pictures.
Here’s the picture, look in-between the next set of brackets!
(
)
Wow that’s realistic!
Don’t ask me how I know.
“If you see a TERF, punch them in the f——— face!”
Said Hitler in drag!
And right there is hate speech!!!
The police reaction???
(Tumbleweed blows past, crickets chirp in the distance!)
This is also incitement to violence. The Home Sec needs to get chief plod in for a severe talking to.
Ooops! Who’d have thunk that the BBC would stoop so low??? Good to see that they’re being called out on this.
(Major sarc alert)
https://insiderpaper.com/syria-revokes-bbc-accreditation-ministry/
So now the BBC is not even honest enough for a country like Syria? Wow, that is low
From today, 10 Jul 2023. File under N.S.S.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world
https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/woke-before-wicket/
Cricket – the defining sport of this country, the very essence of Englishness being set up for bastardisation and collapse.
They cannot destroy the country without destroying cricket. Of course the ECB will oblige.
https://off-guardian.org/2023/07/10/the-bbc-nonce-the-acceptable-face-of-pedophelia/
I don’t know who the ‘nonce’ is but Kit Knightly rips into the MSM in a satisfying style.
Well the BBC do have a nonce statue as the main emblem on the front of broadcasting House so what should we expect?
“Hottest days ever? Don’t believe it”
I dont! This record temperature was measured half way up the tailpipe of a F35 jet!