“Four legs good, two legs bad”: Animal Farm takes the stage at Northbrook College 

There was a biting tension that descended over the Northbrook College theatre, as the lights went down for the start of students’ renditions of Animal Farm.  

Set in the countryside of Manor Farm, the fable covers the farm’s animals revolting against their human overlords, with an aim to create a new society based on equality.  

However, this idealistic fledgling society is corrupted as some of the ruling pigs, led by Napoleon, establish a dictatorship. The story analyses how power can corrupt, as the farm’s dream shapes into a nightmare.  

The audience was drawn in from the very start of each performance, straight from the introduction of Farmer Jones to the intense scenes of the Battle of the Windmill.  

There was also a real show of musical talent on stage, as the cast displayed their talent, belting out musical numbers like ‘Beasts of England’ and ‘Comrade Napoleon’.  

Set in the early 20th Century, the show masterfully illustrated the conflicts between animals and humans, as well as the power dynamics between the two groups, echoing real historical events of the time.  

The performance saw level three acting students come together with design, production and hair and makeup students in order to put on the performance.  

There were two sets of casts that put on these fantastic performances, with some students playing roles across both sets of casts.  

A massive well done to all the cast who put on this series of performances, including:  

• Mimi Kelly and Evelina Rudasa, who both played Napoleon  

• Otis Stobart and Lola France, who both played Snowball  

• Dom Lacey and Tegwen Edwards, who both played Squealer  

• Hannah Thorpe and Thalia Sweetman-Webb, who both played Nutmeg  

• Max Brooker and Kuaid Bagley, who both played Old Major & Blue  

• Emily Manley and Melody Melville, who both played Clover  

• Oliver Hobbs and Melvin Metaliaj, who both played Boxer  

• Josephine King and Alex Cornford, who both played Benjy  

• Hannah Burke and Lynn Hawkins, who both played Clara  

• Libby Johnson and Ellie Dunnell, who both played Minty  

• Lydia Good and Maggie Newman, who both played Molly  

• Eden Brownlee and Imie Ramsdale-Brown, who both played Pigeon  

• Chris Slater and Tom Clarry, who also played Pigeon  

• Kai Ashton, who played Minimus and Farmer Jones  

• Ivie Angelova, who played Minumus  

• Max Dixon, who played Farmer Jones  

They were backed up by a fantastic crew, including:  

Sarah Leaver, Angela El-Zeind, Madeline Hawkey, Madelaine Hawkey, Dora Slade, Sofia Elliott, Lucy Lawson, Alice Kay, Jack Godwin, Maddy Gumpright, Luke Dreamer, Leland Carney-White, Brianna Chivers, Bert Gladstone, Iona Hotston, Farren Cole, Evie Paul, Lola Hunt Hopkins, Ruby Boughen, Graham Shakel, Cara Luck, Steve Lewis  

To find out more about all the Performing Arts & Theatre Production courses available at the college, please click here. 

Photo credit: CKMak Photography