ANIMAL FARM
Music for theater, Rogaland teater (2023)
Music for the theatre piece "Animal Farm" based on George Orwell´s satirical novel from 1945.
“All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.”
The animals on the farm tell each other stories of the evil and uselessness of humans, and a dream emerges, of a farm where the animals are in charge themselves. The dream becomes reality through a sudden revolution, where the animals take over the power and throw out the lazy, drunken farmer. Now, finally, they may establish worthy life circumstances and justice for their hard working inhabitants.
The whole thing goes wild before they manage to spell de-mo-cra-cy. As soon as they have witten “All animals are equal” on the barn door, the pigs use manipulation and propaganda to take over the power. Slowly, and all too late, the animals realize they never really achieved the freedom they fought for. They simply cleared the throne for a new dictator, who, it turns out, is far worse then the former one.
George Orwell wrote this satirical novel i 1945 as a political allegory over Soviet communism and a criticism of stalinism, but it is highly actual now. This is a story not only about power seeking politicians, but also about what happens in a society when the values of society are dissolving.
All music in the piece was based on vocal recorings of the ensemble.
Et genialt stykke Orwell.
Subjekt
BY George Orwell
DIRECTION Mari Vatne Kjeldstadli
SCENOGRAPHY & LIGHT DESIGN Norunn Standal
COSTUMES Synne Reichelt Føreland
COMPOSER & SOUND DESIGN Ingvild Langgård
PERFORMERS Penda Faal, Mari Strand Ferstad, Espen Hana, Paal Herman Ims, Malin Landa, Huy Le Vo, Ragnhild Arnestad Mønness, Terje RanesDRAMATIZATION BY Tom Silkeberg
TRANSLATION BY Christian Heyerdahl
PUBLISHER Columbine
DRAMATURG Mathilde Holdhus
MASK DESIGN Jill Tonje Holter
PHOTOGRAPHY Grethe Nygaard
POSTER PHOTOGRAPHY Stig Håvard Dirdal