Stage production of Animal Farm

Stage production of Animal Farm features illustrations by political cartoonist Ralph Steadman

Backyard Theatre's stage production of George Orwell's political satire, Animal Farm, features illustrations by British political cartoonist Ralph Steadman in a modern twist on an enduring classic.

Director Tanya Piejus says, "I bought a special edition of Animal Farm in 1995 which was produced to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the book's original publication. Ralph Steadman was commissioned to illustrate it. I've always loved his acerbic and witty way of representing Orwell's farmyard characters, such as Napoleon the dictatorial pig and Boxer the hard-working carthorse.

"I contacted Ralph to ask whether I could use his illustrations as part of the audio-visual component of my production. I was thrilled when he replied that he was only too happy to donate them to be projected on the wall of the Gryphon Theatre to complement the action on stage.

"Animal Farm has stood the test of time as a commentary on totalitarianism and is just as relevant to today's global politics as it was in 1945. My aim with this production is to get the audience thinking about how the more things change, the more they stay the same."

Animal Farm will be performed at the Gryphon Theatre, 22 Ghuznee Street from 30 September to 10 October. Tickets are available from iTicket (www.iticket.co.nz or 0508 ITICKET). Two tickets for $30 special on Thursday 1 October.

ENDS

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