This August, Akimbo Theatre brings a groundbreaking new production, The Animator, to Southwark Playhouse Borough, shining a spotlight on the forgotten legacy of pioneering animator Lotte Reiniger.
Running from 20th to 30th August, The Animator explores the life and work of Reiniger, who created the world’s first feature-length animated film, The Adventures of Prince Achmed, in 1926—over a decade before Disney’s Snow White.
Despite her innovation, Reiniger’s contributions have long been overshadowed. Disney dismissed her work as merely a “silhouette” film, though it featured colour, a unique score, magical storytelling, and even a multi-plane camera technique—years before Disney patented his own version.
Reiniger’s story is one of resilience. As a German woman working during a politically volatile era, her work was never shown in America. The original film was lost during World War II and only rediscovered in the 1970s by Louis Hagan Jr., a Jewish refugee who had watched her animate it in his father’s attic.
“We found so many crazy stories about her life, more than we could ever fit in one play! The chase, the fire, the bombing, the summers with Brecht!” said Rosanna Mallinson, Director and Dramaturge at Akimbo Theatre.
The production is part of a growing movement to honour Reiniger’s legacy ahead of the 2026 centenary of her film. The BFI is set to release a book, museums are planning exhibitions, and Akimbo Theatre is preparing a tour.
The Animator is a devised piece by Akimbo Theatre, known for their contemporary storytelling and innovative theatrical style.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
