The National Theatre's acclaimed and award-winning production of War Horse will be transferring to the West End. The production, based on Michael Morpurgo's novel and directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, will begin performances at the New London Theatre on March 28, 2009.
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.
War Horse is adapted for the stage by Nick Stafford. The production features scenic design by Rae Smith, puppet design and fabrication by Adrian Kohler, lighting design by Paule Constable, movement and horse choreography by Toby Sedgwick, video design by Leo Warner and Mark Grimmer, music by Adrian Sutton and sound design by Christopher Shutt. Smith and the Handspring Puppet Company were awarded the 2007 Evening Standard, Critics' Circle and Oliver Awards for their design. Sedgwick won the 2007 Olivier Award for his choreography.
War Horse ends its current run at the National Theatre on March 18.