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War Horse

War Horse at Vivian Beaumont Theater

Nothing could replicate the specific thrill of watching Joey take on substance and soul, out of disparate artificial parts, before our eyes.

Ben Brantley, New York Times

Why see War Horse?

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 odyssey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man's land.

But Albert cannot forget Joey and, still not old enough to enlist, he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home.

The National's new epic is based on the celebrated novel by the British Children's Laureate (2003-05) Michael Morpurgo. Actors working with magnificent, life-sized puppets by the internationally renowned Handspring Puppet Company lead us on a gripping journey through history.

Key Information

Audience

War Horse is suitable for 10 year olds and above.

Run Time

2 hours 40 minutes including a 15 minute interval.

Dates

Finished Jan 6, 2013

Cast

Stephen James Anthony as Billy Narracott
Alyssa Bresnahan as Rose Narracott
Lute Breuer as Joey, Topthorn, Coco
Hunter Canning as Joey as foal
Anthony Cochrane as Chapman Carter, Manfred
Richard Crawford as Sergeant Thunder
Sanjit De Silva as Lieutenant James Nicholls, Unteroffizier Klebb
Andrew Durand as Albert Narracott
Joel Reuben Ganz as Joey, Topthorn, Coco, John Greig
Ben Graney as Soldat Schnabel, Sergeant Fine
Alex Hoeffler as Joey, Topthorn, Coco, John Greig
Leah Hofmann as Joey, Topthorn
Ben Horner as Veterinary Officer Martin
Brian Lee Huynh as Captain Charles Stewart
Jeslyn Kelly as Joey, Topthorn, Coco, Goose
Tessa Klein as Paulette
David Lansbury as Priest, Hauptmann Friedrich Muller
Tom Lee as Joey, Topthorn, Coco, Goose
Jonathan Christopher MacMillan as Joey, Topthorn, Goose
David Manis as Arthur Narracott
Jonathan David Martin as Joey, Topthorn, Coco, John Greig
Nat McIntyre as Heine, Thomas Bone, Oberst Strauss
Andy Murray as Ted Narracott
David Pegram as Joey as a foal, Private David Taylor
Jude Sandy as Joey, Topthorn, Goose
Tommy Schrider as Heine, Doctor Schweyk, Taff
Hannah Sloat as Joey as a foal, Annie Gilbert
Jack Spann as Song Man
Elliot Villar as Allan, Soldat Klausen
Enrico D. Wey as Joey, Topthorn
Isaac Woofter as Joey, Topthorn, Coco, John Greig
Katrina Yaukey as Matron Callaghan
Madeleine Rose Yen as Emilie

Creative

Based on a novel by Michael Morpurgo
Adapted by Nick Stafford
In association with Handspring Puppet Company
Directors - Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris
Designer/Drawings - Rae Smith
Puppet Direction, Puppet Design & Fabrication - Handspring Puppet Company
Lighting Designer - Paule Constable
Director of Movement - Toby Sedgwick
Video Design - Leo Warner and Mark Grimmer
Music - Adrian Sutton
Songmaker - John Tams
Sound Designer - Christopher Shutt

Awards

TONY AWARDS 2011

Best Lighting Design of a Play: Paule Constable

Best Play Author: Nick Stafford

Best Scenic Design of a Play: Rae Smith

Best Sound Design of a Play: Christopher Shutt

Best Direction of a Play: Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris

DRAMA DESK AWARDS 2011

Outstanding Play

Special Award to the creative team of War Horse for thrilling stagecraft.

DRAMA LEAGUE AWARDS 2011

Distinguished Production of a Play

OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD 2011

Outstanding new Broadway play

Outstanding Lighting Design

Reviews

Customer reviews

11 reviews, average rating: (4.5 Stars)

Nigel

Absolutely Brilliant

I saw the London production a few months ago and it is by some distance one of the best plays I've seen in years. The puppets are the stars of the show, brilliantly manipulated by the actors who control them. The set design is awesome, vividly assisting the ever-changing storyline. And the plot executes what is to many an untold consequence of war, the fate of the million or so animals who lost their lives too. War Horse has it all and is great for all ages above 11 or 12, I'd say. It has humour, plot twists, a beautiful set, great acting, astounding puppetry and no little emotional impact too. A triumph. ... Read more

Eden

Brilliant

I saw this show in London last year and it is close to perfect theatre - exciting, moving, thrilling, and the horses are extraordinary. I loved every minute. ... Read more

suzy kew

a play for your bucket list

The NY production is on a par with the one I saw in London in 2009. Astounding puppetry, brilliant stagecraft, including the sketchbook banner. Great characters; the war scenes stark and incredibly moving; hard to pick one above the others, but the night-time Channel crossing and the sight of the worn out ambulance horses that Joey and Topthorn replaced were heartbreaking. This story could have fallen into cliche and melodrama, but it doesn't. If anyone who sees it is not similarly moved, I would assume they do not understand the absolute stupidity and evil that is every war. I hope everyone keeps the ending a secret. It is a testament to how moving the play is that when I saw the play a few weeks ago, an audience member (sounded like an adult) yelled out 'NO!!!!!' when the action looked to take the worst turn possible. I've never witnessed that before. War Horse is not just exciting theatre, it is incredibly cathartic even today when so much in the world breaks our hearts. GO!!! ... Read more
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