‘Animal Farm’ Returns To The Stage With Fierce New Mandarin Revival

By Lara Kramer  •  27 Oct 2025 in Events

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This October, Animal Farm storms back onto the Malaysian stage in a bold new Mandarin revival that pulls no punches.

A collaboration between Pentas Project Theatre Production and W Productions, the show marks the return of acclaimed director Loh Kok Man to one of his most defining works. Seventeen years after his award-winning debut of the play, Loh reimagines George Orwell’s timeless fable through a modern lens, turning the barnyard into a mirror for our own society.

This powerful production features a dynamic mix of emerging and established actors, with live music composed and performed by local musician Alu8. The result is a theatrical experience that’s both visually arresting and emotionally charged.

Animal Farm has always been more than a simple fable. It is a sharp, satirical reflection of power, control, and disillusionment. This staging aims to capture that spirit through mockery, revelry, and unflinching truth.

Event Details

Show: Animal Farm
Date: 30 October to 2 November 2025
Venue: Pentas 2, The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac)
Language: Mandarin, with English subtitles

Cast: Anthony Lee (李奕翰), Seng Soo Ming (程守明), Zizi Hau (侯桂芝), YuanCi Ng (伍苑慈), JunYap Won (溫駿業), and Jerry Pang (彭浩權).

 

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This bold Malaysian revival of Animal Farm brings Orwell’s tale of revolution, betrayal, and corruption to life in Mandarin, complete with English subtitles.

Following the success of The Bee, which received nine BOH Cameronian Award nominations, Pentas Project and W Productions reunite to deliver a production that’s as biting as it is beautiful.

Running from 30 October to 2 November at klpac, this new adaptation promises a visually striking and emotionally powerful experience.

Director Loh Kok Man first staged Animal Farm in 2008, a performance that earned him the Best Director Award at the 7th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards.

His interpretation, built on bold physical theatre and sharp social commentary, went on to tour across Malaysia and Taiwan.

Now, 17 years later, Loh returns with a reimagined version that fuses new perspectives with seasoned artistry. Supported by an award-winning creative team, he once again turns Orwell’s story into a living critique of power and human nature.

Musician Alu8 brings a fresh sonic layer to the production with an original live score that blends traditional instruments from across cultures. His music merges rock sensibilities with the sounds of the Guqin, Didgeridoo, and Bornean Sape, creating an atmosphere that feels both ancient and immediate.

Loh describes this restaging as both a reflection and a renewal. “Every production I create reveals something about who we are,” he says. “Tyranny isn’t only political. It can live in the structures we accept or the silence we maintain. The real question is whether we can still stand up when power tilts too far.”

This revival thrives on rhythm, movement, and energy.

Alu8’s live score transforms Orwell’s words into sound, turning rebellion into something you can feel in your bones.

The ensemble features Anthony Lee, Seng Soo Ming, YuanCi Ng, Zizi Hau, JunYap Won, and Jerry Pang—performers trained across Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan who move as one body of resistance. Quito Nieng’s daring costume designs and Weilin Chan’s symbolic set transform the stage into a shifting world of struggle and transformation.

Overseeing it all is producer William Yap, a veteran playwright and co-founder of W Productions, who continues to champion Malaysian performing arts both onstage and off.

Together, this team breathes new life into Animal Farm in Mandarin, crafting a version that feels timeless yet urgent. It’s a performance that speaks across language and generation, reminding audiences that rebellion is both an act of art and an act of survival.

Tickets are available now via CloudJoi. Get ready for an unforgettable night of satire, rhythm, and rebellion.

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