Fundraiser productions have become an essential part of the framework for FirstByte’s yearly £10,000 fundraising goal, with last year’s production of the classic story ‘Blood Brothers’ selling out 4 performances. FirstByte Director, Henry Blackburn, just keeps upping the ante by bringing George Orwell’s dystopian novel ‘Animal Farm’ to the Burnley Youth Theatre stage.
Established 1973. Creatively inspiring children, young people and families to taker their next steps.
Review by Philip J. Hindle
“When theatre challenges your mind, opens your heart and invigorates your soul, by placing the world around us under a microscope, or filters it through a prism, so each theme is as clear as a rainbow in all its beauty, you know you have created something special. You and your cast and team did so last night.
Your simple re-telling of Orwell’s salient story was almost too much to bear. As I sat in the audience, every word resonated deeply with me, the allegory made me think about the many past and present wars around our globe, the suffering of the innocent and how its leaders, from far right to far left, and those who use religion and those who don’t, manipulate others.
When I went to sleep last night, your production of ‘Animal Farm’ was on my mind. When I woke up this morning, your production was one of my first thoughts. Not many productions elicit such a response from me.
Bravo, you should be incredibly proud. Our young people are a shining glimmer of hope for the future, may they grow and become beacons for a better world.”
Review by Alan Hargreaves
“As we walk into the auditorium we are met with a stage lay-out of a playing area bounded on three sides by audience seating. A burning flame backdrop illuminates the stage overseen by the technical magic of David Hughes. A stage dressed simply in a central raised podium of pallets. Upstage right a depiction of a windmill, once again made from pallet wood, and upstage left a primitive flipchart. Thanks to volunteer Gary Walsh and youth theatre participant Paige Phillips.
Let us talk about Henry Blackburn and Anna Vasey’s directorial prowess. How does one give domesticated beasts power, purpose, and personality? Henry does. Using Orwell’s dialogue and plotting, he immerses us in their plight, politics, and persuasiveness. Using only the effects created by his cast he thrusts upon us the threat of marching hooves, the mechanical clatter of milk pails, the snapshots of torch beams. Having such an accomplished cast, Henry easily conveys the play’s allegorical inference that power corrupts.
Now we come to the actors. The ciphers. The creatures.
As an old carthorse I have sat through many productions, professional and amateur, and on a few occasions have thought some of the cast members have been drafted in just to make up the number. Not in this case. It would seem that your casting committee have hand picked each player for that particular part.
I would urge any local potential director, actor to look out for future Burnley Youth Theatre productions. Come and have a look. It may help.”
