Minack Theatre’s sold-out Animal Farm to tour seven Cornwall venues

Every seat for the Porthcurno run has gone. But the pigs are not done with Cornwall yet.

The Minack Theatre’s production of George Orwell’s Animal Farm plays on the clifftop from 15 to 17 July, and all three performances have sold out. Rather than pack the set away afterwards, the company is taking the show on the road, with seven more dates across the county between 22 and 31 July.

Orwell on a clifftop, then a woodland, then a castle lawn

‘All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.’ Orwell’s most quoted line has followed every totalitarian regime of the past 80 years, and the Minack is putting it in front of Cornish audiences in some unusually beautiful settings.

The production is performed by young adults from the Minack’s Acting Academy under professional direction, using Tatty Hennessy’s award-winning stage adaptation of the novel. It is a story of rebellion, power and betrayal, and one that has lost none of its edge in an age of misinformation and polarisation.

Director John Brolly said: “What excites me most about this production is watching a young company grapple with a text that asks real questions about power and complicity, and do it on some of the most beautiful stages in the county. The message of Animal Farm has never felt more urgent and this cast bring real fire to it.”

Where the tour is going

Anyone who missed out on tickets at Porthcurno has plenty of other chances. The tour dates are:

• Penlee Park Open Air Theatre, Penzance, 22 July
• STERTS Theatre, Upton Cross, 23 July
• Trevow Chapel, Helston, 24 July
• Cardinham Woods, Bodmin, 28 July
• Tintagel, 29 July
• Castle Lawn, Bude, 30 July
• Mount Pleasant Eco Park, Porthtowan, 31 July

What to know before you book

Animal Farm is suitable for ages 10 and over. The production includes replica weapons, violence and themes of animal cruelty and death. Running time is around 2 hours 20 minutes, including an interval.

Full details, including booking links for each venue, are on the Minack’s Animal Farm tour page.