History of the production
Author Michael Morpurgo talks about War Horse’s journey to the stage.The journey of War Horse from my little village of Iddesleigh in Devon where it all began, to the West End via The National Theatre has been a story in itself, a story of great good fortune. A chance conversation in the local pub nearly 30 years ago with an old soldier who had been to the First World War as a 17 year old ‘with ‘orses’ as he said. Then there was the discovery that over a million horses died in that dreadful war – and that was just on the British side –and that most of them that survived were sold off after the war was over, to butchers in France. The book nearly won the Whitbread Prize but didn’t, and then languished, rarely read thereafter for 25 years but kept in print by kind publishers all this time.
In 2005, unbeknown to me, Tom Morris at The National Theatre was looking for a way to bring Handspring Puppets to the theatre. These unique puppeteers from South Africa made life size puppets who take centre stage in their shows. Out of the blue I hear War Horse is being thought of as a possible future production, involving Handspring. So how did Tom Morris ever come across War Horse? Well his mother read it by chance, knew he was looking for a story with an animal at its heart, and gave him a copy of War Horse to read.
During two years of workshops and preparation the team came together. Marianne Elliott joining Tom Morris to direct, and the show was on. I think we all knew by now that with the design, the puppets, the music, the lighting, the actors, the story, we had the potential to create a unique theatrical experience. I witnessed some of their difficulties. It was a hard road, but everyone seemed utterly determined to make it work. And did they make it work?
Two seasons later, seasons where every ticket was sold, Joey trots off to the West End. He may have new stables, but the story told, and sung, and acted, will be the same story. It is my wife Clare’s favourite story. And she has wonderful taste, in stories, and in men. Well that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Find out all about Michael Morpurgo at his offical website.
