‘We thought we’d by no means see it once more’: award-winning Conflict Horse to return to UK

The award-winning stage manufacturing of Conflict Horse is returning to UK theatres in a serious tour this autumn.

The Nationwide Theatre manufacturing of Michael Morpurgo’s novel opens on the New Wimbledon Theatre on 5 September and can run on phases throughout the nation till 4 January 2025, with “future dates and venues to be introduced”.

Conflict Horse, tailored by Nick Stafford and initially directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, is probably the most profitable play within the historical past of the Nationwide Theatre, profitable greater than 25 main awards and seen by greater than 8.3 million folks worldwide.

“This all-new tour is co-produced with Michael Harrison, Fiery Angel, and Enjoying Discipline,” a Nationwide Theatre spokesman stated.

“Conflict Horse tells the outstanding story of a younger boy known as Albert and his horse Joey, set towards the backdrop of the First World Conflict. This powerfully shifting and imaginative drama is a present of phenomenal inventiveness, full of stirring music and songs, that includes ground-breaking puppetry work by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Firm, which brings respiration, galloping, charging, horses to thrilling life on stage and has impressed a technology of theatre-makers since its premiere in 2007.”

Mr Morris stated it was a “big privilege” to be invited to revisit Conflict Horse.

“Michael Morpurgo’s good concept, to discover the crushing violence of conflict by means of the expertise of a horse, makes his story as highly effective and resonant as we speak because it has ever been,” he stated.

Mr Morpurgo added that he was delighted by the manufacturing’s return.

“When Covid closed the present down in 2020 in Australia within the midst of its second world tour, many thought, and I used to be amongst them, that we’d by no means see Conflict Horse on stage once more.

“Now it’s actually taking place – we’ll hear the music and songs, be amazed by its design and lighting, and dwell Joey’s story once more. Conflict Horse is concerning the tragedy of conflict and a couple of horse and his boy, but it surely’s additionally so many different issues – it‘s about household and neighborhood, braveness and loss, hope, and most significantly reconciliation.”

The tour begins 110 years after the First World Conflict broke out, and over 40 years for the reason that guide was written.

Nationwide Theatre govt director Kate Varah stated: “We’re delighted that we’re in a position to launch this main new UK tour of Conflict Horse. This shifting and spectacular manufacturing has captured the creativeness of tens of millions of viewers members the world over because it was first carried out on the Olivier stage in 2007 and we’re deeply appreciative and excited to be working with our co-producers to make this attainable within the present panorama. We sit up for connecting with our companion venues with this much-loved story, which appeals to all ages and which fantastically showcases the magic of dwell efficiency.”

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H&H information editor

Eleanor is an skilled journalist who spent over eight years working for native and nationwide newspapers earlier than becoming a member of H&H as information editor in March 2016. Captivated with equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all points of the business, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage guidelines to mules. Her sport of selection is showjumping, wherein she competes her personal horses, and she or he additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping reveals by means of to worldwide championships.