Pilton Players brought an adaptation of George Orwell’s book ‘Animal Farm’, by director Lee Smith, to the 20th annual Barnstaple Fringe Theatrefest. Presented in the Barnstaple Pannier Market on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th 2026, it told the well-known story in which the animals take over Manor Farm only to end up (spoiler alert) back like the humans they despised. Audiences of 75 for the Saturday performance and 40 for the Sunday performance watched the fifty-minute story told by a cast of thirteen – mostly pigs, sheep. horses, a donkey, a cow, a goat and a dog. The play demonstrated the great use to which the performance end of the recently re-furbished Barnstaple Pannier Market can now be put – albeit in competition with the noise of the market itself (on Saturday) and the herring gulls on the roof. One discerning member of the audience described it as a ‘captivating community production‘ and as ‘an engaging theatrical experience‘. Thank you to them.
Below is the complete cast and crew list. Because of the illness of Darryl Ransom, the part of Napolean was played on the day by the director Lee Smith.
CAST
Old Badger – Badger and Narrator Fisher Chappell
Old Major – a Pig Dave Newman
Snowball – a Pig Angus Basil
Napolean – a Pig Darryl Ransom (Lee Smith on the day due to illness)
Squealer – a Pig Jude Runnells
Boxer – a Horse Simon Barnes
Muriel – a Goat Lynn Rabbett
Clover – a Cow Marion Cox
Benjamin – a Donkey Carol Smith
Mother Dog – a Dog Philippa Cartmell
Mr Jones – a Farmer Kai Karczmarz
Mr Pilkington – a Farmer Kai Karczmarz
Mr Frederick – a Farmer Dave Newman
Mr Whymper – a Solicitor Philippa Cartmell
Sheep – Helen Wardle, Dave Newman, Philippa Cartmell, Angus Basil and Audrey Carney
CREW
Simon Friend, Philippa Cartmell, Carol Smith, Martin Haddrill, Mark Cartmell, Paula Friend and Carol Cole
Pilton Players are planning a third performance at Pilton Community Farm off Abbey Road, Pilton, at 7pm on 17th July 2026. the eve of Pilton Green Man Day.
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- View across the Pannier Market as the cast and audience await the start
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- The animals vote
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- Old Major gives his pearls of wisdom on the future of the farm
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- The view from the Sunday audience
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- Napolean deals with Mr Whymper the solicitor
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- The kitchen table awaits Man and Pig