Reviews of The Animals 7th of March 2026

First review is from Amani

A little review since I got to watch an older-ensemble-company’s play for once as I’m usually in them ahahaha:

Tonight’s show was INSANELY GOOD. I really liked the use of the push-pull method at the start of the play, and the flocking around characters (such as Gee) really personified and embodied the animals themselves. The masks were intricate and really quite fascinating to look at during the ensemble sequences, and they definitely added to the actors’ performances. The boxes were also perfect for this performance. The classroom environment flowed nicely which demonstrates the clear depth of the thought that had been put into each character. Two of the actors that stood out to me were Amelia as her performance as Gee about halfway through the play genuinely made me want to run onto the stage and hug her, and Ben as his performance as Zane showcased such a wide range of emotions.

Everyone’s performances made me forget that I know them in real life as they embodied their characters so well. The sound also really impressed me, especially when I read that it was all created/pre-recorded by the cast. I was jaw dropped at several points in the show, my first thought after the opening sequence was WOW, and I was left speechless after the performance. The whole cast and crew should be very proud of this outstanding performance they have put together.

And the second from Jude

The thing i loved about it was that even tho there was so many characters no one had any more importance than another. Having seen Amelia in LAMDA and yew tree shows, I know that the ability she has to completely transform into another character is just something that’s quite rare for actors so to become a raging and powerful teenager I was quite surprised by but very very impressed so well done to her. 

Fred did so well to take on this role of Sam and I think it fitted him perfectly. The emotion, the empathy and just how real it felt watching him take control of the cast. For me his best moments were the breathing exercises, just being sat in the audience gave me a huge relaxation after the tension built up on stage. Hats off to Fred, was an absolute joy to watch. 

Ben, just wow. The heart and soul he put into his character to make it feel as real as possible genuinely sent shivers down my spine. During the debate even when he wasn’t talking you could already read the story from his face. I think Ben is gonna do absolutely wonders in the future because he is a very talented actor. 

Izzy. Everything from the simple nail picking to the extravagant makeup just amplifies her character as a whole. The chemistry between her and Amelia was absolutely outstanding and the contrast of the shy and peaceful character matches so well with the hot-headed Gee. When she finally snapped back it was completely unsettling as it was unexpected to see such a small innocent character completely transformed into an angry and frustrated person. An absolute joy to watch. 

From the second Matthew stepped foot on stage I was simply stunned, the monologue at the beginning was so powerful it already had me thinking (like a philosopher 😂) and throughout the rest of the play he really brought that comedic but also emotional energy into the rest of the play. Matthew is such a versatile actor and I look forward to seeing just how much more he can define the odds. Well done. 

Sammie. Despite her character seeming to blend in to the background at times, in reality she brought a real dynamic to the play. The Narnia monologue was simply breathtaking and it really felt as an audience member that you were actually there with her in court and that day. The character was much quieter than some of the ‘rowdier’ lot but made up for it in character. A truly great performance well done. 

Despite being somewhat of a smaller role I think that Ebonnie's character played a much larger impact then it may seem. The ability to calm Gee when she became frustrated and not being knocked down was a small but powerful choice in her character. The natural style and humorous character made the show even more enjoyable to watch. Well done you.  

I think that Hannah played the character of Ede so so well. I think she really settled into her character well and she kept a quiet and composed attitude throughout the whole play. Hannah is such a lovely person and her character too was much more respectful to Sam no matter how the language she used may reflect on her. Brilliant work. 

The ensemble despite not being in the whole show really added depth to the performance. In the moments where the named characters had there moments in which they were surrounded by the ensemble made the moments even better. Niamh, Jack, Edward and Francesca very well do to you. 

Constance, absolutely hilarious. The somewhat dumbfounded and deep thought filled character was very comedic and brought lighter moments to the show at times of tension. While not speaking as much as some other characters she absolutely did not fade into the background. From the animal parts to reactions to other situations she was on top and did everything on point. The whole way she presented herself also complimented the character as she really brought Donna to life. Well done you truly incredible actress. 

This is for everyone who helped production and direction. The whole production from the second I walked in already gave me an inside to the plot despite only knowing very little about what it was about. From the boxes to the masks to the lighting all fit the vibe perfectly. The masks were very effective as they highlighted the animalistic basis the makeup done by Ashe for Izzy to was very realistic and made the story even more believable. 

An absolutely amazing production, well done cast and crew. Overall it was an outstandingly well executed play everything had been thought of from the way the characters sit to the lighting. It was an absolutely bloody brilliant.