“Orange is the New Black meets Orwell”: Ballymena’s Jo Donnelly headlines Animal Farm at the MAC

Cast Jo Donnelly, Catriona McFeely, Clare McMahon, Susan Hoffmann

A Ballymena actor is set to take centre stage in a major new theatrical reimagining of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, as Tinderbox Theatre Company prepares to unveil its latest production at the MAC in Belfast.

Jo Donnelly, who hails from Ballymena and has built an extensive career across stage, screen and radio, stars in the bold new adaptation, which will receive its world premiere from 18 to 28 February 2026.

Presented by the UK Theatre Award-winning Tinderbox Theatre Company and supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the production marks the first staging of Animal Farm in Belfast in more than 25 years.

Described as “Orange is the New Black meets George Orwell”, the production reframes Orwell’s political satire through a contemporary lens, transforming it into what the company describes as a modern protest play for today’s audiences.

Catriona McFeely

Directed by Tinderbox Artistic Director Patrick J O’Reilly, the adaptation places four women at the centre of the action. Donnelly stars alongside Catriona McFeely, Clare McMahon and Susan Hoffmann as detainees held following a protest in Belfast.

Under interrogation, the women refuse to give straightforward answers, instead responding with passages from Animal Farm. As the pressure intensifies, the interrogation room begins to fracture, with Orwell’s allegory erupting into life through wit, ferocity and rebellion.

Speaking as rehearsals got underway, Patrick J O’Reilly said:

“Orwell’s novel is timelessly relevant and a powerful testimony to revealing power and corruption in society. The way we protest has changed dramatically, with disruptive tactics now at the forefront. My creative response is to create a theatrical event that celebrates our right to protest through the lens of Orwell’s allegorical masterpiece. This is more than a play. It is an event. A call to action.”

Ballymena’s Jo Donnelly

For Donnelly, the production represents another significant milestone in a career that began in Northern Ireland and has since reached national and international audiences.

A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, she has appeared in numerous productions at the Lyric Theatre Belfast, including Rough Girls, 1984, The Ladykillers and The Playboy of the Western World, which toured to the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin.

Her theatre credits also include work with Big Telly Theatre Company, Brassneck and the MAC, while screen audiences will recognise her from Line of Duty, Tiara Jones, The B-Team and A Good Woman Is Hard to Find. She also works regularly with BBC Radio and can currently be heard in Quick Comedies for BBC Ireland.

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has backed the production, praising its creative ambition and contemporary relevance.

Caoileann Curry-Thompson, Arts Development Officer for Drama and Dance, said:

“The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is delighted to support Tinderbox Theatre Company with this fresh take on a much-loved classic. With such a talented cast and creative team, Animal Farm promises to be a show to remember. I would encourage everyone to go along and enjoy.”

Tinderbox arrives at Animal Farm on the back of a strong run of inventive reinterpretations, having recently relocated Yerma to the Irish borderlands and reimagined Ionesco’s Rhinoceros as a glitch-filled 1980s video game world. The new production has already been cited by The Irish Times as one of the Top 20 plays to see in 2026.

The creative team includes producer Ciaran Haggerty, composer Ryan Graham, set designer Tracey Lindsay, lighting designer Mary Tumelty and costume designer Rosie McClelland, with production management by Jordan Nelson and stage management by Sophie Thompson.

Animal Farm runs at the MAC Belfast from 18–28 February 2026. Tickets and further information are available at www.themaclive.com.