SceneTribe

War Horse

Stage

2026

At the outbreak of the First World War, young Albert’s beloved horse Joey is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France. Too young to enlist, Albert refuses to forget him, embarking on an extraordinary journey from the fields of rural Devon to the trenches of wartime France – determined to bring Joey home. Based on Michael Morpurgo’s beloved novel, War Horse is a timeless story of love, courage and friendship, brought to life by astonishing life-sized horses from Handspring Puppet Company and a stirring musical score. Following a sell-out national tour, the Tony® Award–winning global sensation returns to where it all began, nearly two decades after its debut at the National Theatre.

Trailers

Official YouTube and Vimeo trailers added by contributors.

Trailer

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Teaser Trailer

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Production material

25 assets

Production photos

A young man gently touches the face of a life-sized horse puppet made of brown materials, with a puppeteer partly visible behind it.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

A large group of actors in period costumes stand on stage under dramatic lighting, with a torn backdrop depicting old city buildings behind them. Two puppeteers man a small horse puppet.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

A group of men in historical military uniforms stand on stage, with one man in the foreground looking serious under dramatic lighting.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Stage actors perform with two large, realistic horse puppets in an outdoor scene backdrop, with dramatic lighting and expressive poses. A young woman is riding on top of one of the horse puppets.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Three actors on stage control a horse puppet; one actor sits on the ground whistling using cupped hands. A rural landscape is projected in the background.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Actors on stage manipulate two large horse puppets, portraying soldiers and horses in a dramatic war scene with a battlefield backdrop. Two actors ride on top of the horses with swords drawn.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

A group of performers with rifles silhouetted on stage, dramatic lighting and a backdrop showing silhouettes of soldiers, enacting a wartime scene.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

An older woman in period costume stands on stage, whilst an actor in the background walks a goose puppet on wheels. A wooden door and hanging window frame are visible.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Two men in period costumes talk on stage, holding hats, with a group of performers and a horse puppet behind them in front of a painted city backdrop.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

A young woman in a dress extends her hand to a large, life-sized horse puppet operated by people in costume on a dimly lit stage.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

A young actor kneeling, shows a large sketchbook to a woman in a earthy-toned apron and shawl. Two other actors stand either side watching them.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Actors operate two life-sized horse puppets on stage under dramatic blue lighting, with a backdrop depicting a scenic landscape.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Rehearsal photos

Actors rehearse with a large, black, horse puppet on stage; one person rides it as others operate and guide the puppet, whilst others observe or gesture nearby.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

A man kneels and interacts tenderly with a large, realistic horse puppet operated by another person, whilst several people watch in the background.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

A woman in a checked shirt looks worried as she talks to a young man in a white shirt; several people are blurred in the background of a large indoor space.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Actors rehearse in a studio; one with a large horse puppet, while others stand or gesture around the room, with notes and coats on the wall in the background.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

A man in a vintage military uniform stands in the foreground; behind him, people rehearse in a spacious room with musical instruments and scattered props.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Actors rehearse with life-sized horse puppets; two men in front salute while others operate or stand near the puppets in a spacious rehearsal room.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Two men rehearse, one pulls a prop swan on wheels while the other, wearing a waistcoat, lifts his leg dramatically as if reacting to the swan. A bicycle and door sit in the background.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Two men talk in front of a large horse puppet, with another man sitting on the puppet. The setting appears to be a rehearsal space or backstage area.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

A group of people rehearses with a large horse puppet in a spacious studio, with one person pulling a rope in front.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Three women sit on the floor with papers, laptops, and folders, engaged in discussion; equipment and cables are visible in the background.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Three people operate a large, rearing horse puppet made of metal and fabric inside a spacious, industrial indoor setting. Military helmets and uniforms are displayed in the background.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Several people rehearse with a large, lifelike horse puppet in a studio; one person is dressed as a soldier and others help operate the puppet.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

An actor in a soldier’s uniform holds a clipboard on stage, whilst others rehearse with a large horse puppet and props in the background.

Photographer: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Cast, crew, and contributors

E
Eloise Beaumont-Wood

Joey as a Foal / Understudy Emilie/Nell Allan/Private Schnabel/Jenny Bone/Annie Gilbert

Cast (Wiki credit)

S
Stephen Beckett

Ted Narracott / Colonel Strauss / Understudy Private Manfred

Cast (Wiki credit)

I
Ike Bennett

David Taylor / Thomas Bone / Understudy Private Geordie

Cast (Wiki credit)

O
Owen Dagnall

Private Geordie / Alternate Albert Narracott / Understudy Joey as a Foal/Captain Klebb/Billy Narracott

Cast (Wiki credit)

D
Danny Hendrix

Veterinary Officer Martin / Roberts / Understudy Colonel Strauss/David Taylor/Thomas Bone/Cavalry Captain Friedrich Müller/Sergeant Martin Allan/Chapman Charles Carter

Cast (Wiki credit)

J
Jasmin Hinds

Matron Callaghan / Shaw / Understudy Rose Narracott/Paulette/Sarah Carter/Nell Allan

Cast (Wiki credit)

L
Linford Johnson

Sergeant Fine / Understudy David Taylor/Thomas Bone/Captain Stewart/Ludwig/Major James Nicholls/Doctor Schweyk

Cast (Wiki credit)

A
Andrew Keay

Joey / Topthorn Hind / The Goose

Cast (Wiki credit)

N
Nicholas Khan

Arthur Narracott / Private Brandt / Understudy Sergeant Thunder/Manfred

Cast (Wiki credit)

M
Manuel Klein

Cavalry Captain Friedrich Müller / Priest

Cast (Wiki credit)

M
Michael Larcombe

Joey / Topthorn Hind / The Goose / Understudy Joey as a Foal

Cast (Wiki credit)

M
Madeleine Leslay

Paulette / Sarah Carter / Understudy Rose Narracott/The Singer

Cast (Wiki credit)

J
Jack Lord

Private Klausen / Sergeant Allan / Understudy Ted Narracott/Arthur Narracott/Chapman Carter

Cast (Wiki credit)

D
Damian Lynch

Chapman Carter / Sergeant Thunder / Understudy Colonel Strauss

Cast (Wiki credit)

C
Chris Milford

Joey / Topthorn Heart / Understudy Major James Nicholls/Doctor Schweyk

Cast (Wiki credit)

C
Corey Montague-Sholay

Billy Narracott / Captain Klebb / Understudy Albert Narracott/Roberts/Shaw

Cast (Wiki credit)

J
Jordan Paris

Joey as a Foal / Understudy Private Brandt/Sergeant Allan/Billy Narracott/ Sergeant Klebb/Private Schnabel/Captain Charles Stewart/Ludwig

Cast (Wiki credit)

A
Anne-Marie Piazza

Nell Allan / Private Schnabel / Understudy Joey as a Foal/Matron Callaghan/The Singer

Cast (Wiki credit)

D
Daniel Rock

Captain Stewart / Ludwig / Understudy Veterinary Office Martin

Cast (Wiki credit)

S
Simon Stanhope

Manfred / Understudy Ted Narracott/ Arthur Narracott/Private Brandt/Priest/Sergeant Thunder

Cast (Wiki credit)

L
Lucy Thorburn

Jenny Bone / Nurse Annie Gilbert / Understudy Joey as a Foal/Emilie

Cast (Wiki credit)

C
Chris Williams

Major James Nicholls / Doctor Schweyk / Understudy Private Geordie/Sergeant Fine/Cavalry Captain Friedrich Müller

Cast (Wiki credit)

R
Rae Smith

Set and Costume Designer / Drawings

Creative team (Wiki credit)

A
Adrian Kohler

Puppet Design and Fabrication

Creative team (Wiki credit)

T
Toby Sedgwick

Director of Movement and Horse Choreography

Creative team (Wiki credit)

5
59 Studio

Animation and Projection Design

Creative team (Wiki credit)

R
Rob Casey

Lighting Designer

Creative team (Wiki credit)

J
Johanna Coe

Associate Costume Designer

Creative team (Wiki credit)

L
Lewis Howard

Associate Puppetry Director

Creative team (Wiki credit)

R
Rob Bettle

Associate Sound Designer

Creative team (Wiki credit)

T
Tom Turner

Associate Lighting Designer

Creative team (Wiki credit)

E
Emma Laxton

Associate Sound Designer

Creative team (Wiki credit)

T
Tom Shiels

Casting Associate

Creative team (Wiki credit)