Reviews & Culture

Animal Farm: When some are more equal than others

Animal farm was co-opted by the right, but it's an allegory for the woes of Stalinism and how the counter-revolution defeated workers

The key line from Animal Farm that shows the hijacking of the revolution

 (Photo: flickr/Kevin Lim)

By Esme Choonara
Saturday 15 February 2025

 SOCIALIST WORKER Issue

A powerful and cleverly staged new production of Animal Farm marks 80 years since George Orwell’s famous anti-Stalinist satire was first published.

The actors in this production play animals but are not in animal costumes or masks. Instead, they are dressed in the clothing of workers.

The characters appear simultaneously as animals, with animal preoccupations and mannerisms, but also as the exploited workers they represent. The only characters who appear in over-stylised, “hammed-up”, faceless costumes are the exploitative humans.

Animal Farm is an allegory for Stalin’s betrayal of the Russian Revolution. The plot centres on a group of animals who are exploited and mistreated by Jones, the human that runs the farm. An older pig, Boxer, propagates ideas of resistance. When Boxer dies, two younger pigs, Napoleon and Snowball, lead the animals in a successful revolution to take over the farm

The animals beat off attempts to retake the farm, but at a huge cost.

One of their key slogans is that all animals are equal—and their fight is for freedom, equality and genuine democracy for all. However, these ideals are eroded as the Stalin‑like Napoleon increasingly takes power and privileges for himself.

Snowball is marginalised, exiled, slandered and accused of collaboration with the humans. Democracy ends and there are brutal purges of animals who dare to question Napoleon’s direction. Napoleon consolidates his power and becomes indistinguishable from the rotten humans.

The key slogan famously warps into, “All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others.”

The first half of the play sharply captures the optimism of the rebellion. It depicts the electrifying moment when the animals move from timid and fearful oppression to realising their potential power and take over the farm.

The programme and publicity for the play states that this adaptation does not share Orwell’s preoccupation with the Russian Revolution and the rise of Stalinism.

However, it is hard to know what the message of the play would be if decoupled from its origins as an allegory of Stalin’s counterrevolution. Perhaps a fable about how resistance is futile?

The argument that revolutions are bound to end in tyranny was the interpretation seized upon and promoted by the right—much to Orwell’s dismay. They loved the book almost as much as the Stalinist-influenced left hated it.

Along with Orwell’s chilling dystopian novel 1984, Animal Farm was widely promoted by the CIA as part of Cold War propaganda about the dangers of socialism.

However, Orwell was clear that the book was a specific satire aimed at Stalinism, not a cynical attack on all revolution. He argued that Stalinism and the myths surrounding it were the biggest obstacle to real socialism. This conviction came in part from his own bitter experience.

Orwell first came up with the idea for Animal Farm when he returned from fighting against General Franco in the Spanish civil war in 1936. A radical Popular Front government had been elected. The right wing retaliated with an attempted military coup, but the working class rose up in revolt creating huge political upheavals.

Orwell’s experience in Spain fundamentally shaped his politics. He learned two key lessons. First was that workers’ power was possible. Second was how Stalinists brutally betrayed that revolution.

He saw first-hand the brutality and misinformation used by Stalinists against Trotskyists, anarchists and other anti‑Stalinists on the left. He and his wife were among those hunted and forced to flee Spain. Orwell remained committed to some version of democratic revolutionary change and resolutely opposed Stalinism until his death in 1950.

Eight decades after Animal Farm first appeared, do catch this lively and engaging new production if you can.Animal Farm by George Orwell, adapted by Tatty Hennessy and directed by Amy Leach is at Stratford East (London) until 8 March, Leeds Playhouse 12-29 March, and Nottingham Playhouse 2-12 April