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THIS LITTLE PIGGY

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Seven animal generations after George Orwell's pigs shook hands with their former masters, Animal Farm has become Animal Pharmaceuticals - a giant, multi-national conglomerate of farms, firms and factories. At the edge of the known world is its forgotten outpost - a small laboratory. In it, the occupants - a pig, sheep and horse - work tirelessly, testing products and doing to themselves what was once done to them. Their life of experimentation is interrupted by notice of an impending visit from HQ, and the animals ready themselves for their just reward. But the detail is always in the fine print.

'[A] darkly engaging look at both particular political issues and human nature in general.'
Maz Dixon, BroadwayAustralia.com, June 18, 2005

'[An] imaginative script...a welcome and refreshing change from the more realist plays that tend to dominate Australian mainstream theatre.'
Ash Walker, vibewire.net, June 18, 2005

  • contemporary fable
  • 65
  • 4 total
  • 2 female identifying, 2 male identifying
  • 16 to 18, 18+
  • young adult, adult
  • Australian Script Centre


  • MONOLOGUES
  • PRODUCTION HISTORY

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Pig

Gender Unspecified | Unspecified | 5 to 10 minutes
Starts on page 33

EXTRACT: I've got some hide. I'm telling you, some hide./But Pigs are clever./ Not stupid like horses or mollusks./ Not struck dumb like lobster and mice./ If we were unproductive. Lived without tools. Harnessed no power./ Dribbled all day in our beds with our limbs thrashing. Shat where we/ sat. Shirked the work. Cared nothing for ideas. Science!/You're a good listener. Anyone ever tell you that?/ I'll tell you/ I'll tell you my secret/ You're discreet./ You're a good listener. Anyone ever tell you that?


Sheep

Female | Unspecified | 5 to 10 minutes
Starts on page 36

EXTRACT: I am not in any way embarrassed to admit that I can be unstable. But I have a disorder. A physical malfunction of the body, therefore why not discuss it? So./ Well. In spite of it I perform well. Very well./ You see I was first put on anti-depressants at the tender age of/ Of course I went insane. I forgot the bottle of it once and all I wanted to do was throw myself off a cliff. I suffered blackouts, nausea, violent mood swings, aggression towards loved ones. But now I have never felt better. My career has never...

Adult themes

Eagle

Gender Unspecified | Unspecified | over 10 minutes
Starts on page 43

EXTRACT: He's screaming at me. Nonsense. Complete nonsense. About his mother.. his farm. About the firm. About pigs. About the great war. The great war. I was on the Standard. The fucking flag./ I'm still silent. He's still screaming. About legislation. Legislation! Was I there? Did I sign it? Was I there? Did I sign it? I look at him, in the eyes. He's a bird after all and finally I speak! I say! I knew a pig, a very powerful pig who said: There are two things you don't want to see being made. Sausage and legislation. Sausage and legislation.

Adult themes

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