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War Horse

War Horse at Sunderland Empire

Why see War Horse?

Galloping Back To Stages

The stunning international smash hit and audience favourite War Horse gallops back onto stages across the country. Based on Michael Morpurgo's heartbreaking novel and featuring the incredible talents of South Africa's Handspring Puppet Company, War Horse has conquered the globe with its breathtaking fusion of drama and innovative awe-inspiring puppetry.

With its incredible life-sized, life-like horse puppets and moving plot, War Horse stole the show, quite literally, when it first opened back on the West End in 2009 - even warranting a royal visit by the Queen herself! Since then, War Horse has toured extensively, including places like China, the USA, and Belgium, bringing Michael Morpurgo's heartbreaking story to the far corners of the globe.

What Is War Horse About?

World War One has just begun and young Albert's beloved horse Joey is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France. As Joey becomes caught up in enemy fire, fate takes him on an extraordinary journey, serving both British and German soldiers, experiencing peace on a French farm, before finding himself stranded in No Man's Land. Meanwhile, at home in England, Albert cannot forget Joey, and so illegally enlists in the army, embarking on a dangerous mission to France to bring him back home.

Key Information

Audience

Age 10+

Run Time

Approximately Two hours and 40 minutes with interval

Dates

Finished 16 Nov

Cast

  • Rianna Ash - Joey/Topthorn head
  • Alexander Ballinger - Friedrich/Allan
  • Diany Bandza - Emilie/Baby Joey
  • Eloise Beaumont-Wood - Baby Joey
  • Ike Bennett - David Taylor/Thomas Bone
  • Haydn Burke - Billy Narracott/Heine/Klebb
  • Sophie Cartman - Matron Callaghan
  • Jo Castleton - Rose Narracott
  • Owen Dagnall - Geordie
  • Alexandra Donnachie - Joey/Topthorn head
  • Felicity Donnelly - Joey/Topthorn hind
  • Tom Gilbey - Sergeant Fine
  • Thomas Goodridge - Joey/Topthorn hind
  • Karl Haynes - Ted Narracott
  • Robin Hayward - Joey/Topthorn heart
  • Michael Larcombe - Joey/Topthorn hind
  • Matthew Lawrence - Joey/Topthorn head),
  • Madeleine Leslay - Paulette/Sarah Carter
  • Jack Lord - Klausen
  • Damian Lynch - Carter/Strauss
  • Lewis McBean - Joey/Topthorn heart
  • Chris Milford - Joey/Tophorn heart
  • Jordan Paris - Baby Joey
  • Anne-Marie Piazza - Nell Allan/Schnabel
  • Tea Poldervaart - Joey/Topthorn head
  • Lucy Thorburn - Jenny Bone/Annie Gilbert
  • Gareth Radcliffe - Arthur Narracott/Sergeant Thunder
  • Daniel Rock - Captain Stewart/Ludwig
  • Tom Sturgess - Albert Narracott
  • Alistair So - Vet Martin
  • Simon Stanhope - Manfred
  • Gun Suen - Joey/Topthorn hind
  • Sally Swanson - The Singer
  • Chris Williams - Lieutenant Nicholls/Dr Schewyk
  • Rafe Young - Joey/Topthorn heart

Creative

  • Written by Marianne Elliott, Tom Morris and Nick Stafford
  • Directed by Tom Morris
  • Revival Director Katie Henry
  • Designs by Rae Smith
  • Additional Music by Adrian Sutton.
  • Puppet design and Fabrication by Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler
  • Lighting design by Rob Casey,
  • Movement and Horse Choreography by Toby Sedgwick
  • Puppet Direction by Matthew Forbes.
  • Animation and Projection Design is by Nicol Scott
  • Songmaking by John Tams
  • Sound Design is by Christopher Shutt
  • Casting is by Jill Green
  • Associate Design by Will Fricker

Reviews

Customer reviews

2 reviews, average rating: (4.5 Stars)

Fay Sampson Priestley

Brilliant production

This was the best produced play I have ever seen. The puppet horses were brilliant. The use of the backdrop to project images of peace and war was one of the best features, I shall not forget the clods of earth, after an explosion, that turned into spatters of blood, and then into a field of poppies. Thousands of horses used in the war were shot afterwards, but Joey's rescue was made both credible and deeply moving. ... Read more

Roy

Wonderful story. Production let it down

Really enjoyed the theatrics of Warhorse. Very moving and well acted. But… The sound was poor The lighting was often Warhorse-cued and dark patches when there shouldn’t have been Actors forgot key lines - should have said Heads! when tossing up for Joey with the German soldier Stifling heat in the auditorium Extremely cramped toilets both ladies and gents Expensive drinks in the bar ... Read more
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