War Horse set to return to The Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent

Author Michael Morpurgo announced at the Stoke-on-Trent Festival in the Factory that War Horse, the unforgettable theatrical event based on his beloved novel, will return to the Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent in 2019.

War Horse last visited Stoke-on-Trent in 2014 when it was the Regent Theatre’s most successful show ever with over 30,000 people visiting the theatre.

Directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, Nick Stafford’s adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s remarkable story of courage, loyalty and friendship, about a young boy called Albert and his horse Joey, set against the backdrop of the First World War is the most successful play in the National Theatre’s history. It features ground-breaking puppetry work by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, which brings breathing, galloping horses to life on stage.

Michael Morpurgo said: “After a few months rest, out at pasture, Joey, the War Horse and his great team from the National Theatre are touring the UK again taking their show all over the country to towns and cities, many of them places War Horse has not been seen before. I am so pleased this is happening – that so many more people will have the chance to enjoy this unique theatrical event.”

War Horse, which has been seen by over seven million people worldwide, completed its record-breaking eight year London run at the New London Theatre in March 2016. It has won 25 awards including the Tony Award for Best Play on Broadway.

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, Belgium and China.

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 for 59 Productions, songmaker John Tams, music by Adrian Sutton and sound by Christopher Shutt. Katie Henry is the revival director and Craig Leo is the associate puppetry director. They are joined by resident puppetry director Matthew Forbes and resident director Charlotte Peters.

The tour of War Horse coincides with the Centenary commemorations of the end of the First World War and follows the production’s sold-out tour of the UK and Ireland in 2013-2014 which included Stoke-on-Trent.

Cast to be announced. War Horse is produced on tour by the National Theatre.

See Baba’s What’s ON for more details.