ANIMAL FARM

Since Animal Farm was first published in 1946 it has been translated into several languages and been read and enjoyed, studied and analysed throughout the world.  The simple story tells the tale of farm animals and the events leading up to and following their rebellion against human beings. This „Fairy Story“ as Orwell himself called it, can be read on many different levels; our barnyard is a society or community; the time is both the past and the present; the inhabitants are individuals whose hopes and dreams of building a better world are manipulated and eventually destroyed by the corruption of power.  This essential theme pertains to many societies today as well as it has, time and time again, throughout history.

In Tour de Force Theatre's dynamic adaptation for the stage, five highly skilled actors theatrically portray the animal’s essential nature as a mirror to the human condition. Accompanied by an original musical score both played and sung live by the cast, along with elements of dance, mime, mask and circus the production brings Orwell’s text to life on the stage.  In this highly theatrical adaptation there are images and scenes, which both shock and delight the audience.  The pace is fast and the essential themes are expressed with great force, charm and clarity.

The production and the text closely follow Orwell’s original novel; the mistreated animals on the Manor Farm suffer under Mr. Jones, a brutal and incompetent, drunken farmer.  Old Major, an old boar, tells the animals of his „strange dream“ and inspires them to a rebellion against humans. The story continues as the animals rename the farm Animal Farm and adopt seven commandments, which are to be the basis of their new community.  We meet and become involved in the lives of the various characters: Boxer and Clover (two dedicated work horses) Muriel the goat, Benjamin the cynical old donkey and others including the pigs Snowball, Squealer and Napoleon, as they pursue their vision of „a better society to come...“
The pigs are clever and learn to read and write. Slowly they take over the management of the farm and gain control over all the other animals. Napoleon fights his way to the top and using propaganda and fear tactics manages to manipulate himself into the power position of dictator over the other animals. The seven commandments are bent and broken and the animals learn the hard way that indeed „all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others“.  In the end the animals sacrifice and suffer as they did in the beginning, powerless to change the imposed „order“ of the ruling class pigs and their unstoppable dictator Napoleon, who has become indistinguishable from the human beings.

Animal Farm is a story of hopes and dreams gone wrong, of deception and manipulation and corruption of power. A touching and tragic tale told with much satirical wit and comedy – a fantastic modern classic transformed into a delightful theatrical event for young and old alike.

Tour de Force Theater

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