NATIONAL THEATRE ANNOUNCES
EXTENSION OF WAR HORSE PRIOR TO ITS
FINAL WEST END PERFORMANCE ON 12 MARCH 2016
FOLLOWED BY A UK TOUR IN AUTUMN 2017
After eight record breaking years, the National Theatre today (17 September 2015)
announced the final extension of its West End run of War Horse, with a last performance at
the New London Theatre scheduled for 12 March 2016.
War Horse will have played over 3,000 performances and been seen by over 2.7 million
people in London, and over seven million people worldwide; it has won 25 awards including
the Tony Award for Best Play on Broadway. Directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris,
Nick Stafford’s adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s story about a boy and his horse set
against the backdrop of the First World War is the most successful play in the National
Theatre’s history.
A major UK tour of War Horse will begin in autumn 2017, as the country prepares to mark
the final centenary year of the First World War, with details to be announced.
War Horse received its world premiere on 9 October 2007 at the National Theatre, where it
played for two seasons before opening at the New London Theatre in March 2009. Since
then, War Horse has been seen in 97 cities in 10 countries, including productions on
Broadway, in Toronto and Berlin, with touring productions in the UK and Ireland, North
America, the Netherlands and Belgium. Most recently a Chinese-language production
opened in Beijing which moves to Shanghai later this year.
Producer Chris Harper said: ‘War Horse has wowed audiences around the world, and we
are incredibly proud of what the show has achieved over the last eight extraordinary years.
It has been a privilege to bring Michael Morpurgo’s beloved novel to the stage and to share
this beautiful story of love and friendship with audiences. At the heart of War Horse is Joey,
the life-size puppet horse, who has become an unlikely star, enchanting and moving
audiences of all ages. I’d like to extend a special thank you to the incredible cast and crew
who bring the show to life night after night; and we look forward to celebrating the final six
months in London before galloping off on tour in 2017.’
Michael Morpurgo added: ‘Great things from small beginnings grow. Tom Morris and
Marianne Elliott dared to take a children's book about a horse and a boy in the First World
War, and make a play of it with puppets. But what puppets! Between them, the National
Theatre and Handspring Puppet Company have transformed the use of puppetry in theatre.
They wove into their play the design of Rae Smith, the music of Adrian Sutton and John
Tams, glorious lighting and sound, and spent two risky years putting the show together. The
result, after a stuttering start, was an iconic play, but not simply a play, certainly not a
musical, a show like no other, with puppets at its heart. It has moved millions in London and
all over the world.'
War Horse is directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, designed by Rae Smith, with
puppet direction, design and fabrication by Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler for Handspring
Puppet Company, lighting by Paule Constable, and movement and horse choreography by
Toby Sedgwick, with video design by Leo Warner and Mark Grimmer, songmaker John
Tams, music by Adrian Sutton and sound by Christopher Shutt.
A special series of platforms will be scheduled to celebrate the final six months of War
Horse in London.
The West End cast comprises James Backway (Albert Narracott), Phillip Bertioli
(Joey/Topthorn Heart), Ken Bradshaw (Priest/Gefreiter Karl), Adrian Christopher
(Topthorn Head), Matthew Churcher (Joey/Topthorn Hind), Clare Louise Connolly (Baby
Joey/Emilie), Alasdair Craig (Friedrich Muller), Harry De Moraville (Thomas Bone), Drew
Dillon (Goose/Klebb), James Duncan (Joey/Topthorn Head), Nick Figgis (Dr Schweyk/Vet
Martin), Patrick Fleming (Rudi), Keiran Flynn (Sergeant Fine/Col Strauss), Alan Francis
(Sergeant Thunder), Colm Gormley (Ted), Dominic Hodson (Captain Nicholls), Ian
Houghton (Sergeant Allan/Manfred), Mark Jackson (Captain Stewart), Simon Jenkins
(Billy Narracott/Ludwig), Jamie Lee-Morgan (Joey Head), Nyron Levy (Topthorn Heart),
Kate Marlais (Annie Gilbert), Shaun McCourt (Joey Hind), Tony McGeever (David Taylor),
Jayne Mckenna (Rose Narracott), Chris Milford (Joey Heart), Gary Mitchinson
(Joey/Topthorn Hind), Thomas Mittleheuser (Ensemble), Ben Murray (Songman/Sentry
Shaw), Markus Schabbing (Joey/Topthorn Head), Adam Henderson Scott (John
Greig/Geordie), Alisdair Simpson (Chapman Carter/Soldat Schmidt), James Alexander
Taylor (Joey/Topthorn Heart), Emma Thornett (Baby Joey/Paulette), Lowri Walton
(Ensemble), Scarlet Wilderink (Baby Joey), Sam Willmott (Topthorn Hind) and Simon
Wolfe (Arthur Narracott).
War Horse is produced in the West End by the National Theatre and National Angels.
American Express is the National Theatre’s Preferred Card Partner.
Ends
Date of issue: 17 September 2015
Notes to Editors

Production images
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/blnlihka2webbtp/AADbBDpoDrimZ8VAhiIC7VFfa?dl=0
EPK extracts

Broadcast:https://www.dropbox.com/s/ct9mx4t600kwvup/NEW%20HD_MST_L11542
_WarHorse_EPK_Edit_UD.mov?dl=0

Online:https://www.dropbox.com/s/kil6jmhsk14ctb0/NEW%20ONLINE_MST_L11542
_WarHorse_EPK_Edit_UD.mov?dl=0
Listings Information
Address:
Dates:
Performances:
New London Theatre, Drury Lane, London WC2B 5PW
Final performance on Saturday 12 March 2016
Monday, Wednesday & Fridays at 7.30pm, Tuesdays at 7pm
Thursday & Saturdays at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Tickets from £15. Concessions available on Band A tickets.
A limited number of Day Seats are available which can be
purchased in person at the box office from 10am on the day of
the performance, strictly limited to one pair per person”
National Theatre Box Office, No booking fee, 020 7452 3000
Online at www.warhorselondon.com or
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
New London Theatre Box Office, booking fee, 0844 412 4654
Online from www.seetickets.com
Website:
Schools Rates are available to groups of 10 plus
Stalls £22.50 per person, Circle £17.50 per person (Best
available seats, Mon – Thurs performances)
1 complimentary teacher ticket with every 10 students aged 10
and under
warhorseonstage.com
For further information about War Horse please contact Nada Zakula on 0207 452 3046
or 07831 766086 or nzakula@nationaltheatre.org.uk