Animal Farm Promo

Key Points

• Client: Bolton Octagon
• Project: Production trailer for Animal Farm
• Type: Pro bono / Community support
• Location: Bolton Octagon Theatre
• Date: November 2025
• Deliverables: 1 production trailer
• Timeframe: Captured during a dedicated 90-minute rehearsal run-through (without audience)
• Outcome: Used across the original campaign and revived for future runs

The Challenge

Every six months, Eight Engines donates a full production to a project we believe in. In November 2025, that project was Bolton Octagon’s new adaptation of Animal Farm — a bold, physical, politically charged piece of theatre.

We were given a single 90-minute window during a closed rehearsal run-through. The absence of an audience gave us a unique advantage: freedom to move within the space and reshoot scenes. But time was still limited, and we had to make every shot count.

The Plan

We worked closely with the Octagon’s creative team to design a fast, flexible shoot. Together, we mapped out a shot list that balanced cinematic ambition with the rehearsal schedule.

Our crew operated within the performance, capturing dynamic handheld footage alongside carefully composed coverage. With the freedom to reset scenes, we were able to highlight key moments with greater visual impact — all while staying out of the cast’s way and keeping the flow natural.

The Results

The finished trailer became a central part of the Octagon’s marketing campaign. It was used online, in-theatre and across social media, helping to set the tone for the production and draw in audiences. It was later revived to support future stagings of the show — a lasting piece of content from a single, focused shoot.

“Absolutely loved working with Eight Engines on a production trailer for the Octagon’s Animal Farm. They were great to work with, had really creative ideas and produced a really high quality end result in super speedy time.”
— Charlie Rachwal, Marketing Director, Bolton Octagon

This was a pro bono project, delivered with the same creative drive and technical precision we bring to everything we do.