An Egg-cellent Year of BSM Drama: Animal Farm
An Egg-cellent Year of BSM Drama: Animal Farm
![An Egg-cellent Year of BSM Drama: Animal Farm]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1778211220/britishschoolmanilaorg/tmulnvyx2amvagriukol/VPAnews_18.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1778211220/britishschoolmanilaorg/tmulnvyx2amvagriukol/VPAnews_18.png","width":400}])
This year has been something of an egg-straordinary one for performance and production at BSM. Across our three productions—Something Rotten Jr., Honk! Jr., and Animal Farm—eggs have made their way onto the stage in one form or another, becoming an unexpected but memorable thread linking each performance. While the connection may be playful, the quality of work across all three productions has been anything but - each one demonstrating creativity, commitment, and impressive artistic achievement.
This term’s Senior School production of Animal Farm was an ambitious and deeply rewarding undertaking, bringing together 27 young performers from Years 7-12 and a dedicated student technical team of five. What began as a challenge to our young performers - tackling a traditionally heavy and intense drama—quickly became a shared commitment to push community expectations beyond the lighter, comedic senior productions of recent years.
The scale of the project reflects that commitment: over 60 hours of rehearsal, 20 hours of production design, and a further 18 hours of set-up and final preparations culminated in a gripping 90-minute performance. Sustaining such intensity is no small feat, yet our students rose to the occasion with remarkable focus and maturity.
The performances were consistently strong, with a clear sense of character and dramatic purpose throughout. Students handled moments of tension and rising emotion with impressive control and sensitivity, creating a production that was both powerful and engaging.
Tap left or right to see more photos
Audiences were particularly captivated by the inventive staging and design choices. The use of masks, shadows, and lighting effects helped build a rich and immersive world, while the bold decision to reverse the layout of the Bayanihan Hall space added a fresh dynamic to the performance. The creative use of simple materials—especially cardboard boxes to create an ever-changing stage landscape—demonstrated both ingenuity and effective storytelling.
A further layer of challenge came from the structure of the production itself. Many cast members took on more than one role, shifting between animal characters and masked human figures with clarity and control. The decision to divide performers across Act 1 and Act 2 casts not only expanded opportunities for stage time but also encouraged meaningful collaboration. Students worked together to shape character arcs and motivations, deepening their understanding of the text and strengthening the ensemble as a whole.
This production was truly a collaborative achievement, and we warmly congratulate all students involved:
The Pigs: Sofi (Year 12), Leelah (Year 9), Aki (Year 9), Aashna (Year 9), Bella (Year 10), Izzy (Year 7), Louise (Year 7), and AJ (Year 7)
The Horses: Findlay (Year 10), Hope (Year 9), Micah (Year 10), Anechka (Year 9), and Mishka (Year 9)
The Donkeys: Edward (Year 9) and Monty (Year 9)
The Chickens: Laia (Year 10) and Frankie (Year 7)
The Dogs: Ottie (Year 7) and Marcos (Year 10)
The Pigeons: Ira (Year 8), Jayden (Year 7), Gabe (Year 7), Moeka (Year 7), and Younglim (Year 7)
The Sheep: Ben (Year 10)
The Newscasters: Alena (Year 8), Natasha (Year 8), and Emma (Year 7)
Student Tech Team: Fiona (Year 12), Shayaan (Year 10), Trevan (Year 10), Dennis (Year 10), and Colin (Year 10)
Their dedication, creativity, and willingness to embrace a demanding piece of theatre resulted in a production that was both memorable and meaningful. Animal Farm proved not only to be a challenge, but a triumph. Thank you to all staff involved in supporting this production.
What the audience does not see throughout the process is the human connection behind the scenes: the new friendships formed, the support shown to one another through the production’s ups and downs, the backstage camaraderie, the silliness and laughter, and the lasting memories created. These are the moments that make the experience truly meaningful—and, for many, life-changing. BSM Drama is committed to inclusive learning experiences, and we warmly encourage students of all interests and experience levels to get involved next year—whether on stage or behind the scenes.
The Visual Art Department
RELATED LINKS
- Creative Arts Centre
- Drama