Animal Farm the musical? This should be interesting!

Elton John writing musical adaptation of Animal Farm - Monsters and Critics

By Daniela Elser Jul 23, 2010, 12:30 GMT

Elton John is said to be working on a stage show based on George Orwell’s classic political novel Animal Farm.

The 63-year-old Piano Man is said to have teamed up with Lee Hall, who penned the musical Billy Elliot. Hall picked up an Oscar nomination as well as Tony and Olivier awards for his work on the hit production.

The producers had faced challenges acquiring the rights to the book. Hall explained, “It's taken about two years. We almost gave up, but there was always that one last licence to go after.”

Discussing the appeal of the text, Hall said, “The line ‘all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others’ lend themselves to lyrics.”

“I'm deep into it, writing songs for pigs and other four-legged friends,” he told the Daily Mail.

Audiences can expect to wait about two years before the curtains are raised, says Hall.