War Horse tour

War Horse tour dates and tickets

War Horse masterfully adapted by Nick Stafford and initially brought to the stage by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, stands as the National Theatre’s unparalleled triumph. With over 25 prestigious awards under its belt, the play has captivated more than 8.3 million viewers across the globe.

At its heart, War Horse narrates the extraordinary tale of Albert, a young boy, and his horse, Joey, set amidst the tumultuous era of the First World War. It’s a narrative that resonates with profound emotion and boundless creativity, underscored by moving music and songs. The play is distinguished by its innovative use of puppetry, masterminded by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company. Their pioneering techniques breathe life into horses on stage, making them prance, charge, and gallop in a display that has left an indelible mark on theatre practitioners since its debut in 2007.

This rendition of War Horse commemorates 110 years since the outbreak of the First World War, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of Michael Morpurgo’s universally acclaimed novel. Morpurgo’s work, the foundation of this theatrical masterpiece, has sold over 35 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 37 languages, further testament to its global impact and enduring appeal.

Creative development for the tour is being 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 Basil Jones and 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 and associate designer is Will Fricker. Casting is to be announced.