The farmer: Gary Shelford does Animal Farm

This weekend, Dubai residents can watch 29 farm animals come to life in a one-hour-50-minute play based on George Orwell's classic novel Animal Farm. The twist? All the characters will be played by just one actor.

Gary Shelford, an experienced West End actor, has been performing the popular one-man show internationally for almost four years. Now, for the first time, he will be performing in Dubai as part of the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts' (DUCTAC) Winter Arts Festival.

Animal Farm is a story about a group of farm animals who revolt against their cruel human owners and form their own governing system, only to find themselves oppressed by their own kind. Essentially, it is a political satire about greed and abuse of power.

In director Guy Masterson's adaptation, Shelford differentiates between the animals solely through changes to his voice and physical movements. There are no costume changes or props, except for a wooden box that he uses as a platform to stand on.

"I had never done anything like this before," Shelford says. "My main challenge is stamina and keeping up my energy levels, because it's a long show to do on your own."

To prepare himself, Shelford does vocal exercises and usually runs around the theatre before the show to get his blood pumping. "I also keep a Red Bull on stage," he says with a laugh.

Switching characters and keeping the story going, while entertaining the audience and maintaining their interest is also a challenge. "You have to concentrate for a long time, and really be in the moment. And since it's a one-man show, if something goes wrong, there is no one else to fall back on," Shelford says.

He remembers one time when he mistakenly skipped to the end of the play early in the second half. "I had killed off all the characters, and had to make up new characters with different voices," he says. "It was exciting, but I hope it never happens again!"

The writer is a Dubai-based free lancer