Banking on the right horse

To much fanfare, one of the stars of the play, Joey – which happens to be a life-size horse puppet – was introduced. Rand Merchant Bank has been the driving and financial force to ensure Joey comes to South Africa ahead of the opening of the play in October.

Sitting down with Carolynne Waterhouse, head of corporate marketing of the bank, she made it clear that the bank had always been interested in creativity.

With all the puppets used in War Horse designed and created by Cape Town-based Hand String Puppet Company and having received worldwide notoriety, it was natural that the bank wanted to partner with the War Horse brand and bring it to South Africa, said Warterhouse.

“We respect arts, we nurture and facilitate it,” she added.

Seventeen years ago the bank started Starlight Classics which presented classical music with an African twist in an open air arena. The shows hosted mezzo-soprano’s such as Katherine Jenkins and Timothy Moloi or having chamber choirs embellish the striking rhythm and blues sound of Naz Holland.

According to Waterhouse there was an emotional connection to these concerts, which led to even more involvement from RMB to combine local and international talent.

Even art dangling from the walls at the bank’s offices are from various creative minds around the country. This fundamental respect for art grew into a partnership with Pieter Toerien a while ago to bring War Horse, and its puppets home, for the first time.

“When you realise how many schools have this as a set book, and when you understand that it is a story of friendship and war, you know it is going to to be a hit,” Waterhouse added.

It is also important to note that War Horse’s Joburg run is during the centenary year after World War 1 started, she said.

During the Great War, horses were beasts of burden, and one million of these animals died during battle.

“War Horse is the story from the horse’s perspective, and gives one a lot to think about.”