The National Theatre’s hit stage adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s First World War drama War Horse has extended its run at the New London theatre to 27 October 2014, with more than 280,000 tickets released to take the show into its seventh year in the West End.
Following its world premiere at the National Theatre’s home on the South Bank in 2007, the hugely popular globe conquering show has now been seen by more than four million people in productions across the world, with West End audiences still flocking to the New London theatre to witness Morpurgo’s charming story brought alive by Handspring Puppet Company’s famous puppets.
Adapted by Nick Stafford and directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, War Horse centres on a young boy called Albert and his beloved horse Joey who has been sent to fight for the English in World War I. Caught in enemy crossfire, Joey ends up serving on both sides during the war before straying into no man’s land, while Albert, not old enough to enlist, embarks on a treacherous mission to find his horse and bring him home.
This autumn War Horse fans are also being offered the chance to take a glimpse behind the scenes with a series of platforms and special events lined up. On 26 October audiences are invited to take a closer look at the puppetry used in the show in a talk with the show’s Assistant Puppetry Director Jimmy Grimes, while on 6 November Elliott will discuss the show’s incredible journey from its development to subsequent international success.
Rounding up the autumn programme on 10 November is an evening of art and song called Anthems For Peace devised by Morpurgo, the show’s designer Rae Smith and actor Virginia McKenna. Audiences at the event will discover more about the production, as well as having the chance to watch the War Horse author and McKenna perform a reading from his Christmas book The Best Christmas Present In The World, accompanied by musical trio Voices At The Door.
For more information about the autumn platforms, visit the War Horse website.