News Story

A person with a headpeice representing a pig kneeling on floor with a group of people hurdled around with their heads down — Production image from 2024 production. Credit Pamela Raith Photography

Due to phenomenal demand following our acclaimed co-production earlier this year with Derby Theatre and Hull Truck, we are delighted to announce a UK spring tour for 2025 of our chilling and powerful re-telling of George Orwell’s timeless fable – Animal Farm, which begins right here in Bolton!

Adapted for the stage by Ian Wooldridge and directed by esteemed theatre director, Iqbal Khan (East is East, Birmingham Rep & National Theatre, Tartuffe, Royal Shakespeare Company, Opening Ceremony of Commonwealth Games) the tour will commence at the Octagon Theatre Bolton from Wed 22 January – Sat 1 February 2025.

The show will then visit Rose Theatre, Kingston (Tue 4 – Sat 8 Feb), Malvern Theatre (Tue 11 – Sat 15 Feb), Curve Theatre, Leicester (Tue 25 Feb – Sat 1 Mar), Queens Theatre Hornchurch (Tue 4 – Sat 8 Mar), Yvonne Arnaud Theatre (Tue 11 – Sat 15 Mar), Perth Theatre (Tue 25 – Sat 29 Mar) and Liverpool Playhouse (Tue 1 – Sat 5 April) – with more dates and venues still to be announced.

When the downtrodden animals of Manor Farm overthrow their master, they imagine it is the beginning of a new life of freedom and equality. However, over time they find themselves ensnared as one tyranny is quickly replaced with another.

Animal Farm is Orwell’s enduring and devastating satire about the corruption of power, that comments on the imbalance among society and demonstrates how some are more equal than others.

A story as relevant today as when it was written in 1945, this classic tale will be brought vividly to life on stages across the UK in this gripping production for 2025.

Full casting will be announced shortly.

The full creative team will be returning for the touring production, which includes: Iqbal Khan (director); Ciaran Bagnall (set and lighting designer); Gerry Marsden (sound designer); Su Newell (costume designer and supervisor); Shelley Eva Haden (movement director); Dylan Towley (composer).

Commenting on the tour announcement, the Octagon’s Artistic Director Lotte Wakeham said: “We are thrilled to be taking our hugely popular production of Animal Farm – brilliantly directed by Iqbal Khan – on tour, visiting venues across the UK in 2025.

“It received an incredible response from audiences in Bolton, Derby and Hull earlier this year, so we are hugely excited for even more audiences across the country to see this fresh, compelling and important piece of theatre.

“We are delighted to be opening the tour in Bolton, giving Octagon audiences the opportunity to catch it again before it begins its journey around the UK.”

Animal Farm comes to the Octagon Theatre Bolton from Wed 22 January – Sat 1 February 2025.

Priority booking for Members is open now and general on-sale from 9am on Friday 21 June.

More info

Animal Farm tour details:

Rose Theatre, Kingston – ON SALE NOW

020 8174 0090

rosetheatre.org/

Malvern Theatre – ON SALE NOW

01684 892277
malvern-theatres.co.uk

Curve Theatre, Leicester – ON SALE SOON

0116 242 3595

curveonline.co.uk