It was announced today (2 October 2012) that the National Theatre’s award-winning production of War Horse will come to Wales as it embarks on a ten month, nine-venue tour of the UK and Ireland. The tour will begin on 27 September 2013, visiting Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, on 18 June – 19 July 2014.
Seen by over 2.4 million people worldwide since its premiere at the National Theatre in 2007, War Horse will visit the Theatre Royal, Plymouth, Birmingham Hippodrome; The Lowry in Salford Quays, the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh; The Mayflower Theatre, Southampton; Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin, Sunderland Empire; the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford and Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff.
National Theatre producer Chris Harper said, “We are delighted that our production of War Horse will soon be touring the UK and visiting Dublin and we are particularly thrilled that the tour opens at in Devon, where the play is set. As well as London, New York, a US tour and Australia, War Horse finally comes home.”
Conrad Lynch, Artistic Director of Wales Millennium Centre says, “We’ve been eagerly awaiting the UK tour of War Horse here at the Centre after its huge success at The National Theatre, in the West End and on Broadway. I am thrilled to announce that this epic production will be coming to Cardiff as part of a series of events that will take place across Wales to mark the centenary of World War 1 in 2014, our tenth year.”
War Horse is the powerful story of a young boy called Albert and his beloved horse, Joey, who has been requisitioned to fight for the English in World War I. Caught in enemy crossfire, Joey ends up serving on both sides during the war before landing in no man’s land, while Albert, not old enough to enlist, embarks on a treacherous mission to find his horse and bring him home. A remarkable tale of courage, loyalty and friendship, War Horse features ground-breaking puppetry work by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, which brings breathing and galloping horses to life on stage.
War Horse is based on a novel by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford and presented in association with Handspring Puppet Company. Directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, it is designed by Rae Smith, lighting is by Paule Constable and movement and horse choreography by Toby Sedgwick. The puppetry directors are Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler, with video design by 59 Productions Ltd, song-making by John Tams, music by Adrian Sutton and sound by Christopher Shutt.
Now in its fourth year in London’s West End, War Horse consistently attracts sell-out houses at the New London Theatre. The Broadway production, which continues its run at the Lincoln Center until 6 January 2013, was the winner of six Tony Awards, including ‘Best Play’ and a ‘Special Tony Award’ for Handspring Puppet Company.
The Canadian production opened to critical acclaim in Toronto in February 2012, where it continues to play, while a North American tour began in Los Angeles in June 2012 and will visit 27 cities in its first year, with future productions planned for Australia, opening in December 2012 and Berlin where it opens in October 2013.
Michael Morpurgo has written over 100 books and was Children’s Laureate from 2003 – 2005. A major feature film of War Horse, based on his 1982 novel and directed by Stephen Spielberg, was nominated for six Academy Awards in 2011.
War Horse is produced on tour by the National Theatre – www.warhorseonstage.com
Tickets for War Horse go on general sale on 30 November 2012. Wales Millennium Centre Promise Members can buy tickets in advance, from 2 October 2012 www.wmc.org.uk/Membership/ Tickets range from £20 to £50. Premium Seats are also available. To book visit www.wmc.org