War Horse 2007
based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo
adapted by Nick Stafford
presented in association with the award-winning Handspring Puppet Company
Booking and details
Olivier Theatre
National Theatre
South Bank
London SE1 9PX
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.
Based on the beloved novel by Michael Morpurgo, this powerfully moving and imaginative drama, filled with stirring music and songs, is a show of phenomenal inventiveness. At its heart are astonishing life-sized horses by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, who bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to thrilling life on stage.
Actors working with magnificent, life-sized puppets by the internationally renowned Handspring Puppet Company lead us on a gripping journey through history.
War Horse is an unforgettable theatrical event which takes audiences on an extraordinary journey from the fields of rural Devon to the trenches of First World War France.
Performed 9 October 2007 — 14 February 2008 in the Olivier Theatre.
Awards
2007 Evening Standard Awards for Best Design (Rae Smith and Handspring Puppet Company)
2007 Critics’ Circle Awards for Best Designer (Rae Smith and Handspring Puppet Company)
2008 Oliviers for Best Set Design (Rae Smith and Handspring Puppet Company), Best Theatre Choreographer (Toby Sedgwick)
2011 New York Outer Critics’ Circle Awards for Outstanding New Broadway Play, Outstanding Director of a Play (Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris), Outstanding Lighting Design (Paule Constable), Special Achievement Award (Adrian Kohler with Basil Jones for Handspring Puppet) and Company Puppet Design, Fabrication and Direction
2011 New York Theatre World Award for Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence (Seth Numrich)
2011 Broadway.com Audience Awards for Favourite Play
2011 New York Drama League Awards for Distinguished Production of a Play
2011 New York Drama Critics’ Circle for Special Citation – The direction, design and puppetry
2011 New York Tony Awards for Best Play, Best Direction of a Play (Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris), Best Scenic Design of a Play (Rae Smith), Best Lighting Design of a Play (Paule Constable), Best Sound Design of a Play (Christopher Shutt) and Special Tony Award (Handspring Puppet Company)
2011 Group Leisure Awards for Best Theatre Production
2012 Whatsonstage.com Award for Best West End Show
2012 Toronto Theatre Critics Awards: Best Design: the creative team
2012 Toronto Dora Awards for Outstanding Costume Design – Rae Smith, Adrian Kohler with Basil Jones for Handspring Puppet Company: Outstanding Choreography (Toby Sedgwick) and Audience Choice Award
2012 Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Awards for Best Presented Production
2013 Association for Cultural Enterprises Awards for Best New Range (the NT’s War Horse merchandise) and Best Overall Product (the War Horse Goose puppet)
2012 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards for Best Production (US tour at the Ahmanson Theatre, jointly with The Book of Mormon, Justin Love and Cyrano) and Best Lighting Design (Paule Constable and Karen Spahn)
2013 Manchester Theatre Awards for Best Visiting Production.
The 50+ Awards 2014 for Best 50+ Theatrical Show: Gold
2014 Group Travel Awards for Best Live Stage/Theatrical Performance
2014 Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards (South Africa) for Best Puppetry Design (Adrian Kohler and Basil Jones)
2008 Olivier nominations for Best New Play, Best Director (Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris), Best Lighting Design (Paule Constable), Best Sound Design (Christopher Shutt with music by Adrian Sutton and John Tams)
Cast
Major Nicholls
Jamie Ballard
Swallow / Emilie
Alice Barclay
Chapman Carter / Rudi
Jason Barnett
Sergeant Bone / Colonel Strauss / Sergeant Fine
James Barriscale
Captain Stewart / Soldat Schmidt
Simon Bubb
Joey's mother, a horse / Goose / Topthorn / Veterinary Officer Martin
Finn Caldwell
David Taylor / Soldat Schultz
Paul Chequer
Young Joey / Topthorn
Thomas Goodridge
Joey's mother, a horse / Dr Schweyk / Coco, a horse / Geordie
Stephen Harper
Rose Narracott / Private Shaw
Thusitha Jayasundera
Veterinary Officer Bright / Karl
Gareth Kennerley
Crow / Joey
Craig Leo
Young Joey / Emilie
Rachel Leonard
Topthorn / Major Callahan
Tim Lewis
Joey
Tommy Luther
Young Joey / Emilie
Mervyn Millar
Paulette / Crow
Emily Mytton
Swallow / Joey / Crow
Toby Olie
Ted Narracott / Coco, a horse
Toby Sedgwick
Ned Warren / Heine, a horse
Ashley Taylor-Rhys
Albert Narracott
Luke Treadaway
Sergeant Thunder / Soldat Klebb
Howard Ward
Arthur Warren / Soldat Manfred
Alan Williams
Heine, a horse / Ensemble
Matthew Woodyatt
Hauptmann Friedrich Müller
Angus Wright
Music Director / Trumpet / Flugelhorn / Bugle
Colin Rae
French Horn / Tenor Horn
Richard Ashton
Trumpet / Cornet / Piccolo trumpet
Andy Callard
Clarinet
Susi Evans
Trombone / Euphonium
Tracy Holloway
Song Man
Tim van Eyken
Production team
Author
Michael Morpurgo
Adaptor
Nick Stafford
Co-director
Marianne Elliott
Co-director
Tom Morris
Designer
Rae Smith
Lighting Designer
Paule Constable
Puppet Design and Fabrication
Basil Jones
Puppet Design and Fabrication
Adrian Kohler
Video Designer
Leo Warner
Video Designer
Mark Grimmer
Movement Director
Toby Sedgwick
Sound Designer
Christopher Shutt
Music
Adrian Sutton
Music Director
Harvey Brough
Songmaker
John Tams
Company Voice & Dialect Work
Jeannette Nelson
Design Associate
Tim Blazdell
Staff Director
Polly Findlay
Music Associate
Anthony Reeves
Assistant Costume Supervisor
Jo Hunt
German translation
Heike Roemer
French translation
Christopher Campbell