bookofswagNational Theatre Live continues to build on its highly successful range of screenings in South Africa with the release of the National Theatre’s multi-award-winning production of War Horse, seen by over five million people worldwide since its premiere at the National in 2007. War Horse will be broadcast for the first time from its home at the New London Theatre in the West End to Cinema Nouveau’s digital screens nationwide and at Ster-Kinekor Blue Route in Tokai, Cape Town, from Saturday, 12 April for eight shows only.
Based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, the story has been adapted for the stage by Nick Stafford in association with the South African-based, award-winning Handspring Puppet Company. Since its first performance, War Horse has become an international smash hit.
War Horse follows the powerful story of a young boy called Albert and his beloved horse, Joey, who has been requisitioned to fight for the British in World War I. Caught in enemy crossfire, Joey ends up serving on both sides during the war before landing in No Man’s Land, while Albert, not old enough to enlist, embarks on a treacherous mission to find his horse and bring him home.
A remarkable tale of courage, loyalty and friendship, War Horse features at its heart astonishing life-size puppets by South Africa’s ground-breaking Handspring Puppet Company, which bring breathing, galloping horses to thrilling life on stage.
The National Theatre Live screening of War Horse will also mark the first theatre production to be broadcast in South Africa in Sony 4K, following the recent digital technology projection upgrade at all the Cinema Nouveau and Ster-Kinekor sites.
War Horse is adapted by Nick Stafford and presented in association with Handspring Puppet Company. Directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, it is designed by Rae Smith, with lighting by Paule Constable and movement and horse choreography by Toby Sedgwick. The puppetry directors are Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler, with video design by 59 Productions Ltd, song-making by John Tams, music by Adrian Sutton and sound by Christopher Shutt.
The War Horse cast at the New London includes: Gareth Aled, Nigel Allen, Antony Antunes, Derek Arnold, Alex Avery, Oliver Beamish, Richard Booth, Alistair Brammer, Ashleigh Cheadle, Eke Chukwu, Darren Cockrill, Ewen Cummins, Tamsin Fessey, Nicholas Hart, Paul Hawkyard, Tom Hodgkins, Jamie Kenna, Pieter Lawman, Andrew London, Brian Lonsdale, Josh McCord, Dogan Mehmet, Tom Meredith, Ben Murray, Steve North, Lewis Peploe, Sergio Priftis, William Rycroft, Jack Sandle, Ian Shaw, Michael Taibi, Zoe Thorne, Emma Thornett, Josie Walker, Brendan Wall, Sam Wilmott and Sion Daniel Young.
War Horse releases on South African screens on Saturday, 12 April for eight screenings only – on 12, 16, 17, 19, 23 and 24 April at 19:30 and on 13 and 20 April at 14:30 – at Cinema Nouveau theatres in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town, and at Ster-Kinekor Blue Route Mall. The running time of this production is 2hrs 50mins.
For booking information on War Horse visit www.cinemanouveau.co.za or sterkinekor.mobi, or call our Ticketline on 082 16789. Follow us on Twitter @nouveaubuzz. You can also download the Ster-Kinekor App on any Nokia, Samsung Android, iPhone and Blackberry handset for updates, news and to book from your mobile.
War Horse is produced in the West End by the National Theatre and National Angels. Don’t miss the chance to experience this landmark production at a cinema near you.
Hi-res images from this production are available at: www.skpictures.co.za.
National Theatre Live broadcasts the best of British theatre live to cinemas around the world. Since its first season in 2009, over 2.5 million people globally have experienced more than 35 broadcasts from the National Theatre and other theatres across the UK. National Theatre Live events are distributed outside the U.K. through New York-based BY Experience, the pioneer of global live ‘alternative content’ digital cinema events.