The National Theatre’s multi-award-winning production of War Horse will return to Birmingham Hippodrome for a strictly limited run from Wednesday 10 October – Saturday 3 November.
Following eight record-breaking years in London’s West End, War Horse has now played in eleven countries around the world and been seen by over seven million people. The production has won over 25 major awards including the Tony Award for Best Play on Broadway. Following its Birmingham run and eleven years after its debut, War Horse will return to its original home of the National Theatre in London this November to mark the centenary of Armistice Day.
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 journey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man’s land. Albert, who remained on his parents’ Devon farm, cannot forget Joey. Though still not old enough to enlist he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home.
Based on the beloved novel by Michael Morpurgo, this powerfully moving and imaginative drama, filled with stirring music and songs, is a show of phenomenal inventiveness. At its heart are astonishing life-sized horses by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, who bring breathing, galloping, charging horses thrillingly to life on stage.
On Wednesday 31 October Birmingham Hippodrome will be hosting a free talk on the history of the theatre during World War One. To mark the centenary of the end of “the war to end all wars”, Ivan Heard, one of the theatres Hippodrome Heritage Volunteers will be discussing the Hippodrome’s war effort during World War One. Taking a fascinating look into who was entertaining the Home Front, who was packing the theatre with protesting female Munitions Workers, and what could you do with your surplus fruit and veg, this free hour long talk takes place at 12.30pm before the matinée performance of War Horse in the PwC Suite.
