Arts writer
NATIONAL Theatre Live releases the National Theatre’s multi-award-winning production of War Horse, seen by more than five million people worldwide since its premiere at the National in 2007.
The film 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 from April 12 for eight shows.
Based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, the story has been adapted for the stage by Nick Stafford in association with the Handspring Puppet Company.
War Horse tells the story of a boy from the rural areas of England called Albert and his beloved horse, Joey, who has been requisitioned by the British Army in World War I.
Joey gets caught up in the thick of the action and 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 life-size puppets, which bring breathing, galloping horses to thrilling life on stage.
This National Theatre Live screening also marks 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.
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.
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 cast at the New London includes Gareth Aled, Nigel Allen, Tamsin Fessey, Nicholas Hart, Sergio Priftis, William Rycroft, Jack Sandle, Ian Shaw, Michael Taibi, Zoe Thorne, Emma Thornett, Josie Walker, Brendan Wall, Sam Wilmott and Sion Daniel Young.
The running time of this production is almost three hours.
l To book, see www.cinemanouveau.co.za