ANIMALS was nominated for a Reumert Award in 2023
The Reumert jury wrote in its justification for the nomination:
"This year's dystopian animal world was full of expressive actors behind delicate animal masks.
Tough dogsin a totalitarian regime. Pigs that bullied and sheep that were imprisoned for less than a “baa”.
The fight for justice behind the slammed doors was heartbreakingly beautiful."
‘Fascism gets a slap in the face in this Orwell-inspired dystopia. Meridiano Theatre and Teater Tix remind us of the fragility of democracy in a political fable inspired by George Orwell's “Animal Farm”. A truly accomplished performance with thematic depth and theatrical flair, which comes highly recommended.’
Morten Hede, Teateravisen
‘Insanely well acted! That's how I feel after seeing the fantastic performance Animals. It was SUCH a cool performance! I was accompanied by my 13-year-old daughter, who was also ’totally thrilled" by Animals.
If you need to be blown away by intense acting, a powerful story, beautiful set design, mega cool masks and costumes, you should definitely take your teenager or your school pupils to see Animals."
Ditte Koefoed, Teaterspotter
"The performance for older classes is excellent and a great introduction to discussing social issues, politics and fascism in class. The moral and political themes are presented in such a way that they seem relevant and topical in Giacomo Ravicchio's imaginative direction and set design.
Before the play begins, the four actors Mette Alvang, Annevig Schelde, Vika Dahlberg and Elise Müller put on impressive animal masks and wigs and introduce Molly and Rolf and their mothers. From here on, it is the actors' sublime body language and voices that distinguish the characters from each other. They also play a dog patrol wearing helmets and bully-like costumes that make you shudder.
Overall, it is the powerful imagery of the performance that leaves a deep impression. For example, in a shadow play scene, dog soldiers cut the sheep's wild hair, and the bare sheep heads appear wounded and humiliated before they are imprisoned. Or when the dog Rolf humorously says to the sheep Molly: ‘It's you we count when we can't sleep.’
‘Animals’ is a poignant and well-acted introduction to our collective political present and future and is highly recommended for older schoolchildren.
Eva-Marie Møller, Folkeskolen
‘Animals is a story of the functioning and totalitarian reality as told by Orwell, brilliantly narrated in the mask theatre convention.’
Maria Schejbal-Cytawa, Teatr Lalek, Poland
