Revolution Farm at Newham City Farm

Community Links presents Revolution Farm, written by James Kenworth, inspired by George Orwell’s Animal Farm and directed by James Martin Charlton. Debuting at Newham City Farm for the best part of this month, both the cast and the audience will share the stage as a revolution is born. 

Community Links is an innovative East-London-based charity that runs a wide range of community projects. This collaboration with Revolution Farm proves to be very unique. With a combination of professionals and young, amateur actors from local schools and youth groups the idea behind Revolution Farm comes to life.

Set on an actual farm in Newham, this performance was like no other; using Newham City Farm was both genius and gruesome. The reasoning behind the rural location quickly became clear: to get a genuine feel of it all. However, the novelty soon wore off once it began to get cold and dark. The pigeons became restless and eyes wondered off, staring into the air at numerous large planes. The audience were made to follow the show wherever it went, from a barn to a schoolyard, from the schoolyard to a classroom, from the classroom to the schoolyard and on it went. Backward and forwards, somewhat tedious. Seating was scarce and the lack of a stage occasionally made it difficult to see the action.

Inspired by Orwell’s Animal Farm, power was the matter in question for this performance. The rich and corrupt minority triumph over the masses, with a powerful little weapon called knowledge. The play suggests that with knowledge, one becomes respectable, credible and influential. The importance of education and knowledge bled out of this performance while the ignorant majority were utterly complacent, naïve and gullible until they learned to read. This new found intelligence could have changed everything, had it not been too late. In short: power corrupts.

Chaneen Salako
Photos: Prodeepta Das

Revolution Farm is on at Newham City Farm from 19^th August until 18^th November 2014, for further information or to book visit here.