Animal Farm becomes Revolution Farm in new site-specific production

By Ewan Stuart

Site specific theatre is held in high esteem these days, since Punchdrunk’s insanely high production quality shows hit the scene theatre companies that have traditionally offered these unique experiences have gone from strength to strength. So it’s only fitting that Community Links (an East London social action charity) Revolution Farm takes place far from the lights of the West End on Newham City Farm.

The production is a loose adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm performed promenade style by a community theatre group which has fused professional actors with local kids and youth theatre groups. It works well to a great extent, at times it can be slightly too didactic, too shouty and too ranty. But taking into account the target audience and the fact that the constant planes taking off from nearby City Airport threaten to drown out the performers, and you can make a few simple concessions for these niggles.

So it may be performed in less than ideal conditions, but there are some genuinely exciting and worthy moments within. Kevin Kinson shows great strength as Warrior (a double for Boxer) practically frothing at the mouth with rabid fervour at one point, whilst the plucky young performers playing chickens had such brilliant energy they could teach a few professionals a thing or two. But where the production really shines is in its atmosphere. The scenes in and around the barn are wonderful, its ramshackle viscera rattles and quakes with the shrieks of the slaughter within. It can be an awesome atmosphere. Performed against this backdrop of disadvantaged youth evokes memories of the London riots, the Arab Spring, and Nicola Alexis’ Daddy Love has sinister echoes of Robert Mugabe or other African dictators. My only major resignation is that the young actors feel underused. I’m sure there has been a wonderful education through participation aspect to this performance, and I don’t doubt its altruistic intentions, but it can feel that the young participants are reduced to chanting key slogans in the background. Perhaps Community Links will build on this production’s success and allow the young actors another opportunity to truly shine, because at the moment it feels like all actors are equal – just some are more equal than others.

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