The National Theatre?s award-winning production of War Horse will set off on a UK-wide tour in September 2013, beginning in Devon, where the original book is set.
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. The play is based on a novel by children’s writer Michael Morpurgo.
The iconic mechanical horse made by the South Africa?s Handspring Puppet Company was recently seen saluting The Queen during her Diamond Jubilee celebratory river pageant, where the horse was one of the highlight moments of the parade. Now it will be possible to see the moving production as it tours across the UK, fittingly beginning in Devon, where the play is set.
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; Sunderland Empire; the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford and Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff. It will also go to Dublin?s Bord G?is Energy Theatre.
The UK tour begins 27 September 2013 and runs through to July 2014.