The puppet that changed the world
MONTECASINO - The phenomenon from Broadway and the West End, War Horse, will be making its South African première later this year with its opening season at The Teatro.
This after the South Africa-based Handspring Puppet Company played a major part in the Broadway, West End and Australian productions of the show.
War Horse will be presented in South Africa by Pieter Toerien, Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) and The National Theatre of Great Britain, in association with Handspring Puppet Company.
The production has been seen by over 5 million people worldwide since its opening at the London National Theatre in 2007.
During its successful run on Broadway, it received five Tony Awards, plus a special Tony Award for the Handspring Puppet Company.
Pieter Toerien said, “I fell in love with War Horse when it first opened at the National Theatre in London nearly seven years ago. The brilliant actors and the genius of South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company made [it] an absolutely extraordinary evening in the theatre. “I was determined to bring it to our audience, so a dream is about to come true for me.”
Chris Harper, producer of War Horse said, “The design, artistry and craftsmanship of Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler and everyone at Handspring Puppet Company has delighted audiences around the world.
“Every single puppet used in the show was hand-crafted in Cape Town at Handspring’s puppet factory, and it is only fitting that they are returning to the country where they were created to be enjoyed by South African audiences.”
War Horse is 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 groundbreaking puppetry work by the puppet company, which brings breathing and galloping horses to life on stage.
War Horse opens on 22 October.
Details: 0861 915 8000 or www.warhorseonstage.com
