War Horse - new cast announced
Lizzie Guilfoyle
FROM September 30, 2009, a new cast of actors and puppeteers will join the National Theatre’s award-winning West End hit War Horse, which is currently booking at the New London Theatre until February 12, 2010.
They include James Barriscale (as Chapman Carter/Colonel Strauss/Sgt. Fine), Simon Bubb (Captain Stewart/Rudi), Robert Emms who currently plays Billy Narracott (Albert Narracott), Jack Gordon (Billy Narracott), Jonathan Livingstone (David Taylor), Eamonn O’Dwyer (Songman), Malcolm Ridley (Sgt. Allan/Schnabel/Manfred), Rachel Sanders (Rose Narracott), Anthony Shuster (Gefreiter Karl), Matthew Spencer (Captain Nicholls), Howard Ward (Arthur Narracott/Sgt. Thunder) and Roger Wilson (Alternate Songman/Greig).
Colin Mace (as Ted Narracott) and Patrick O’Kane (Friedrich) will remain with the production.
The puppeteers (some with other roles) include Gregory Bartlett (Topthorn head), Michael Brett (Joey and Topthorn hind), Matthew Burgess (Joey heart), Finn Caldwell (Topthorn heart/The Goose/Veterinary Officer Martin), Laura Cubitt (Paulette/Joey as a foal), David Emmings (Joey head), Robin Guiver (Joey and Topthorn heart/Geordie), Stephen Harper (Topthorn hind/Geordie), Bettrys Jones (Joey as a foal/Emilie), Avye Leventis (Joey as a foal), Toby Olié (Joey and Topthorn head/The Goose), Ian Piears (Joey hind), Ruth Rogers (Ensemble/Joey and Topthorn head), Matthew Tait (Ensemble/Joey and Topthorn heart) and Ben Thompson (Ensemble/Joey and Topthorn hind).
Also in the ensemble will be Killian Burke and William Rycroft.
Based on Michael Morpurgo’s novel and adapted for stage by Nick Stafford, War Horse is the story of Joey, young Albert’s beloved horse who, at the outbreak of World War One, is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France. Soon, he’s caught up in enemy fire and fate takes him on an extraordinary odyssey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man’s land. But Albert cannot forget Joey and, still not old enough to enlist, he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home.
Making War Horse
Making War Horse is a behind-the-scenes documentary featuring rehearsal and backstage footage, interviews with the production team, the actors and the puppeteers and extracts from the award-winning show. Produced by the National’s Digital Media Unit in conjunction with Seventh Art Productionsis, it’s now on sale from the National Theatre Bookshop, the New London Theatre and from the Official Website