Rehearsal images have been released for the National Theatre’s internationally acclaimed production of War Horse, based on Michael Morpurgo’s novel, which comes to the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton from October 8 to 19.
War Horse, adapted by Nick Stafford and originally directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, has become the most successful play in the history of the National Theatre, winning more than 25 major awards including the Tony Award for Best Play, and has been seen by more than 8.3 million people worldwide. This new tour is co-produced with Michael Harrison, Fiery Angel and Playing Field.
War Horse tells the remarkable story of a young boy called Albert and his horse Joey, set against the backdrop of the First World War.
This powerfully moving and imaginative drama is a show of phenomenal inventiveness, filled with stirring music and songs, featuring ground-breaking puppetry work by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, which brings breathing, galloping, charging horses to thrilling life on stage and has inspired a generation of theatre-makers since its premiere in 2007.
At the outbreak of the First World War, Joey, young Albert’s beloved horse, is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France. He’s soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary journey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man’s land.
Albert, who remained on his parents’ Devon farm, cannot forget Joey. Though still not old enough to enlist, he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home.
This tour of War Horse marks 110 years since the start of the First World War and follows the 40th anniversary of the publication of Michael Morpurgo’s global best-selling novel, which has now sold more than two million copies worldwide in 44 different languages.
Creative development for the tour has been led by Tom Morris with revival director Katie Henry, featuring reimagined designs by Rae Smith and additional music by Adrian Sutton.
Puppet design and fabrication is by Adrian Kohler for Handspring Puppet Company, lighting design is by Rob Casey, movement and horse choreography is by Toby Sedgwick, with puppet direction by Matthew Forbes.
Animation and projection design is by Nicol Scott for 59 Productions, John Tams is song maker and sound design is by Christopher Shutt. Casting is by Jill Green CDG.
They are joined by associate designer Will Fricker and associate costume designer Johanna Coe, associate lighting designer Tom Turner, associate sound designer Rob Bettle, assistant sound designer Raffaela Pancucci, musical director Dom Coyote, fight director Paul Benzing, voice coach Carol Fairlamb, dialect coach Rebecca Daltry, resident director Anna Marshall and assistant puppetry director Lewis Howard.
War Horse received its world premiere on October 9, 2007, at the National Theatre, where it played for two seasons.
The full cast of 35 is Rianna Ash, Alexander Ballinger, Eloise Beaumont-Wood, Ike Bennett, Haydn Burke, Sophie Cartman, Jo Castleton, Owen Dagnall, Alexandra Donnachie, Felicity Donnelly, Tom Gilbey, Thomas Goodridge, Karl Haynes, Robin Hayward, Michael Larcombe, Matthew Lawrence, Madeleine Leslay, Jack Lord, Damian Lynch, Lewis McBean, Chris Milford, Jordan Paris, Anne-Marie Piazza, Tea Poldervaart, Lucy Thorburn, Gareth Radcliffe, Daniel Rock, Diany Samba-Bandza, Tom Sturgess, Alistair So, Simon Stanhope, Gun Suen, Sally Swanson, Chris Williams and Rafe Young.
For tickets call 02380 711811 or visit mayflower.org.uk