Fringe 2025 – Sam Blythe reboots Orwell's Animal Farm
Fringe legend Guy Masterson's iconic one-man adaptation, which has toured the globe continuously for three decades, is reborn this summer at Assembly George Square. The masterstroke? Acclaimed physical actor Sam Blythe steps into the stable – and into the roles of every beast, bird, and bamboozler on Orwell's corrupt farm.
Directed by multi award-winner Masterson himself – whose name is synonymous with powerhouse solo performances like Under Milk Wood, Shylock, and A Christmas Carol – this 30th anniversary revival is more than a tribute. It's a torch passed and ignited anew.
Blythe, best known for his electrifying solo Hamlet (Method in My Madness) and immersive performances in Peaky Blinders: The Rise and Doctor Who: Time Fracture, delivers a shape-shifting tour de force. From the noble Boxer to the conniving Squealer, each animal springs vividly to life in a performance that is physical, poetic and politically charged.
'This is no museum piece,' says Masterson. 'Orwell's warning feels more urgent than ever. And Sam brings a blistering clarity and intensity that makes the story hit home afresh.'
Audiences should prepare for fur, feathers and fire. As the pigs rewrite the rules and the sheep bleat their blind approval, it's hard not to feel the chill of Orwell's prophecy. 'I mean, it could never happen to us, could it?'
This year, Fringe-goers can double up on Blythe brilliance. Animal Farm runs daily at 1pm, while his solo Hamlet (Method in My Madness) returns at 10:40am – a compelling companion piece directed by comic provocateur Elf Lyons.
Thirty years on, Orwell's hoof-stomping fable still bites hard. With Masterson's blessing and Blythe's ferocity, Animal Farm is set to stampede once more into the hearts – and consciences – of Fringe audiences.
www.assemblyfestival.com
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