(AGENPARL) – mer 11 settembre 2024 Wednesday 11 September 2024
FIRST LOOK: PRODUCTION IMAGES RELEASED FOR
THE UK & IRELAND TOUR OF
WAR HORSE
Link to production images here
Brand new production images have been released for the National Theatre’s acclaimed production of
War Horse, based on Michael Morpurgo’s beloved novel. This all-new production is now touring the UK
and Ireland, currently playing at the New Wimbledon Theatre, with a press performance on Sunday 22
September at The Lowry in Salford.
The full cast of 35 includes: Rianna Ash (Joey/Topthorn head), Alexander Ballinger (Captain Friedrich
Müller/Allan), Eloise Beaumont-Wood (Baby Joey), Ike Bennett (David Taylor/Thomas Bone), Haydn
Burke (Billy Narracott/Sergeant Klebb), Sophie Cartman (Matron Callaghan), Jo Castleton (Rose
Narracott), Owen Dagnall (Geordie), Alexandra Donnachie (Joey/Topthorn head), Felicity Donnelly
(Joey/Topthorn hind), Tom Gilbey (Sergeant Fine), Thomas Goodridge (Joey/Topthorn hind), Karl
Haynes (Ted Narracott), Robin Hayward (Joey/Topthorn heart), Michael Larcombe (Joey/Topthorn
hind), Matthew Lawrence (Joey/Topthorn head), Madeleine Leslay (Paulette/Sarah Carter), Jack Lord
(Klausen/Priest), Damian Lynch (Carter/Strauss), Lewis McBean (Joey/Topthorn heart), Chris Milford
(Joey/Tophorn heart), Jordan Paris (Baby Joey), Anne-Marie Piazza (Nell Allan/Schnabel), Tea
Poldervaart (Joey/Topthorn head), Lucy Thorburn (Jenny Bone/Annie Gilbert), Gareth Radcliffe (Arthur
Narracott/Sergeant Thunder), Daniel Rock (Captain Stewart/Ludwig), Diany Samba-Bandza
(Emilie/Baby Joey),Tom Sturgess (Albert Narracott), Alistair So (Vet Martin), Simon Stanhope (Manfred),
Gun Suen (Joey/Topthorn hind), Sally Swanson (The Singer), Chris Williams (Lieutenant Nicholls/Dr
Schewyk) and Rafe Young (Joey/Topthorn heart).
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 over 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 World War One, 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.
The tour is playing at: New Wimbledon Theatre (until 14 September 2024), The Lowry, Salford (18 – 28
September 2024) Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (8 – 19 October 2024), The Marlowe, Canterbury
(22 October – 2 November 2024), Sunderland Empire (5 – 16 November 2024), Theatre Royal Plymouth
(26 November – 7 December 2024), New Theatre Oxford (10 December 2024 – 4 January 2025), New
Victoria Theatre, Woking (14 – 25 January 2025), Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin (29 January – 1
February 2025), Grand Opera House, Belfast (4 – 15 February 2025), The Regent Theatre, Stoke (4 – 8
March 2025), Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (11 – 22 March 2025), Theatre Royal Glasgow (25 March –
5 April 2025), Liverpool Empire (8– 19 April), Milton Keynes Theatre (22 April – 3 May 2025), Nottingham
Royal Concert Hall (7 – 17 May 2025) and Bristol Hippodrome (3 – 21 June 2025).
Casting for Leeds Grand Theatre (19 August – 6 September 2025), Edinburgh Festival Theatre (2 – 11
October 2025), Wales Millennium Centre (15 – 25 October 2025) and Norwich Theatre Royal (28
October – 8 November 2025) to be announced.
Assisted performances are available throughout the run at each venue. Further tour dates and venues to
be announced. For more information and to book tickets visit WarHorseOnStage.com.
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 over 2
million copies world-wide and 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 songmaker and sound design is by
Christopher Shutt. Casting is by Jill Green CDG. They are joined by associate designer William Fricker
and associate costume designer Johanna Coe, associate lighting designer Tom Turner, assistant lighting
designer Charly Dunford, music assosicate Matthew Gough, 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, assistant
puppetry director Lewis Howard and dramatherapist Samantha Adams. Casting associates are Olivia
Laydon and Tom Shiels.
War Horse received its world premiere on 9 October 2007 at the National Theatre, where it played for two
seasons before opening at the New London Theatre in March 2009. Since then, War Horse has been
seen in 97 cities in 14 countries, including productions on Broadway, in Toronto and Berlin, with touring
productions in the UK and Ireland, North America, the Netherlands and Belgium.
The National Theatre’s Partner for Financial Wellbeing, Charles Stanley, is supporting War Horse on tour.
War Horse will visit Theatre Nation Partnerships venues, including The Lowry in Salford, Sunderland
Empire, Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent and Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.
Further Materials
Production images here
Rehearsal images here
Cast headshots here
Cast biogs here
Artwork available here
LISTINGS
Dates: Press performance: Sunday 22 September 2024, 2:30pm at The Lowry, Salford
(detailed tour schedule below)
Assisted Performances: Check individual venue websites for information and booking details
Age Recommendation: 10+
Social Platforms:
Follow on Instagram @WarHorseOnStage
Twitter @WarHorseOnStage
Facebook War Horse On Stage
#WarHorseOnStage
WAR HORSE UK TOUR DATES FOR 2024-2025
New Wimbledon Theatre
atgtickets.com/new-wimbledon-theatre
until 14 September 2024
The Lowry, Salford
thelowry.com
18 – 28 September 2024
Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
mayflower.org.uk
8 – 19 October 2024
Marlowe Theatre Canterbury
marlowetheatre.com
22 October – 2 November 2024
Sunderland Empire
atgtickets.com/sunderland-empire
5 – 16 November 2024
Theatre Royal Plymouth
theatreroyal.com
26 November – 7 December 2024
New Theatre Oxford
atgtickets.com/new-theatre-oxford
10 December 2024 – 4 January 2025
New Victoria Theatre, Woking
14 – 25 January 2025
atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre
Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin
bordgaisenergytheatre.ie
29 January – 1 February 2025
Grand Opera House, Belfast
goh.co.uk
4 – 15 February 2025
Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent
atgtickets.com/venues/regent-theatre
4 – 8 March 2025
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
grandtheatre.co.uk
11 – 22 March 2025
Theatre Royal Glasgow
25 March – 5 April 2025
atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-glasgow
Liverpool Empire
atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire
8 – 19 April 2025
Milton Keynes Theatre
22 April – 3 May 2025
atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre
Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham
trch.co.uk
7 – 17 May 2025
Bristol Hippodrome
3 – 21 June 2025
atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome
Leeds Grand Theatre
leedsheritagetheatres.com
19 August – 6 September 2025
Edinburgh Festival Theatre
2 – 11 October 2025
http://www.capitaltheatres.com
Wales Millennium Centre
15 – 25 October 2025
http://www.wmc.org.uk
Norwich Theatre Royal
28 October – 8 November 2025
norwichtheatre.org
NOTES TO EDITOR
War Horse – original creative credits
The original production of War Horse was co-directed by Tom Morris and Marianne Elliott, with design
by Rae Smith and puppet design and fabrication by Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler for Handspring
Puppet Company. Original lighting design was by Paule Constable, with movement and horse
choreography by Toby Sedgwick and animation and projection design by Leo Warner and Mark
Grimmer for 59 Productions. Original Music was by Adrian Sutton with John Tams as songmaker and
sound design was by Christopher Shutt.
About the National Theatre
The National Theatre makes theatre that entertains and inspires using its creativity, expertise and unique
reach. The National Theatre shares unforgettable stories with millions of audience members across the
UK and around the world – on its own stages, on tour, in schools, on cinema screens and streaming at
home. ?
World-leading artists make their best work at the National Theatre with the widest possible audience and
impact. The National Theatre invests in talent and innovation on stage and off, taking seriously its role as
the nation’s theatre. Of the new productions developed each year with a wide range of theatre
companies, a third of that research and development resource is dedicated to shows staged at theatres
outside London. ?
Through touring our work to local theatres and schools and nationwide education and community
programmes, we are active in every local authority in the UK. A registered charity with deeply embedded
social purpose, the National Theatre works with hundreds of schools and communities across the UK to
fire imagination and inspire creativity, and to develop skills and pathways for careers in theatre. ?
For more information, please visit nationaltheatre.org.uk
@NationalTheatre
@NT_PressOffice
About Michael Harrison
West End musicals include: Hello Dolly (The London Palladium) The Little Big Things (@sohoplace), Crazy
For You (Gillian Lynne), The Wizard of Oz (The London Palladium), Oklahoma! (Wyndham’s), The Drifters
Girl (Garrick), two seasons of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (The London Palladium),
Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein (Garrick), Annie (Piccadilly), Mrs Henderson Presents (Noël Coward),
Gypsy (Savoy), The Bodyguard (Adelphi and Dominion), Peter Pan, Jack and the Beanstalk, Pantoland,
Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Snow White, Dick Whittington (Olivier Award for Best Entertainment and
Family) and Cinderella (The London Palladium). In 2022, with Andrew Lloyd Webber, he formed Lloyd
Webber Harrison Musicals to produce both new musicals and revivals of Andrew’s existing work.
Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals productions include: Starlight Express (Troubadour) and Jamie Lloyd’s
re-imagined Sunset Boulevard starring Nicole Scherzinger (Savoy). Later this year, they will produce
Sunset Boulevard at the St James Theatre on Broadway.
Upcoming 2024 productions include: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat starring Donny
Osmond (Edinburgh Playhouse) and War Horse (UK tour). Michael produced Disney’s Bedknobs and
Broomsticks on tour in the UK.
He is Chief Executive of Crossroads Pantomimes, responsible for many of the major number one
pantomimes across the UK.
Michael was awarded a companionship to the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts by Sir Paul
McCartney and the Freedom of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne in recognition of his services to theatre in
the region.
About Fiery Angel
Headed by Edward Snape and Marilyn Eardley, Fiery Angel is an award-winning international production
company based in London’s West End.
Recent productions in the West End include: The 39 Steps, Kathy and Stella Solve A Murder!, King Lear,
Hairspray, Peppa Pig Live, Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol, Circus 1903, Touching The
Void, The Son, The Night of the Iguana, Fleabag, Home I’m Darling, Long Day’s Journey into Night, Mary
Stuart, Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company; The Winter’s Tale, All On
Her Own/Harlequinade, Red Velvet, The Painkiller, Romeo and Juliet, The Entertainer, The Scottsboro
Boys, The Ladykillers, and Ghost Stories.
Recent UK Tours include: Murder on the Orient Express, Rob Brydon: A Night of Songs and Laughter, The
39 Steps, The Boy at the Back of the Class, And Then There Were None, Kathy and Stella Solve A Murder!,
Tubular Bells, The Smartest Giant in Town, Peppa Pig Live, Unexpected Twist, Animal Farm, The Good
Life, Love From A Stranger, and To Kill a Mockingbird.
Fiery Angel has acted as a co-producer alongside The National Theatre on its West End productions
of Nine Night, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and The Lehman Trilogy.
About Playing Field
Combining our knowledge of theatre and capital, Playing Field is dedicated to accelerating the creation of
world class theatre. We are involved in the early-stage development, late-stage investment and
production of a wide variety of projects in London, nationally and internationally.
Work includes: Back to the Future (London, NY, US Tour), Starlight Express, MJ The Musical, Hello Dolly!,
Stranger Things, Life of Pi (London, UK Tour, NY, US Tour), Moulin Rouge, The Hills of California, Dear
England, Standing at the Sky’s Edge, Red Pitch, The Motive and the Cue, Dr Strangelove, Merrily We Roll
Along (NY), Opening Night, King Lear, The Lehman Trilogy (London, NY), Jerusalem, Funny Girl (NY), Just
For One Day, Lyonesse, Edward Scissorhands, Dr Semmelweis, For Black Boys Who Have Considered
Suicide, A Strange Loop, The Crucible, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Crazy for You, Groundhog Day,
A Little Life, A Streetcar Named Desire, Patriots, 2.22, A Doll’s House, Medea, The Wizard of Oz, Sleeping
Beauty, New York, New York, Oklahoma!, Sylvia, The Piano Lesson (NY), Death of a Salesman (NY), The
Time Travellers Wife, 101 Dalmatians, Good, Cruise, Girl from the North Country, Grease, Hairspray,
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Pillowman, Touching the Void, The Bodyguard, The
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Fiddler on the Roof.
playingfield.co.uk
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