War Horse, the National Theatre’s hit family show of Christmas 2007, is to be revived in autumn 2008, when it will become the first show at the National to feature Sunday performances.
The Laurence Olivier Award-winning production begins previews from 10 September, with its first Sunday performance – the inaugural Sunday performance at the National Theatre – coming on 21 September.
The scheduling innovation signals a ‘testing of the water’ for the South Bank venue; its success could lead to the National Theatre incorporating Sunday performances into more of its productions in the future.
War Horse, Nick Stafford’s adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s novel, premiered at the National in October 2007, when it was universally praised by the critics and played a sell-out season.
Using life-sized puppets alongside actors, War Horse tells the story of Joey, a horse raised by farmer’s lad Albert, who, when World War One breaks out, is sold to the army. Sent to the front in France, he is soon caught up in the battle. But Albert cannot forget his friend and, though he is not old enough to enlist, he embarks on a mission to find Joey and bring him home.
At the 2008 Laurence Olivier Awards, War Horse won the awards for Best Set Design (for Rae Smith and Handspring Puppet Company) and Best Theatre Choreographer (for Toby Sedgwick).
Tickets for War Horse go on sale from 6 June.
MA