War Horse

Olivier - National Theatre

4.8/5 based on 576 reviews (read reviews)

Opens: Saturday, 16 May 2026 -
Booking until: Thursday, 30 July 2026

Families (86%) Couples (89%) Theatregoers (95%) i

War Horse photos

War Horse description

A magnificent, moving, epic play - it's War Horse at the National Theatre.

If you missed it last time it was in the capital, here's your chance to experience the magic of War Horse two decades after the premiere of this legendary National Theatre production. Your venue is the National's Olivier Theatre, and the magic is on stage for a strictly limited season.

Michael Morpurgo wrote the bestseller book, adapted for the theatre by Nick Stafford. The breathtaking life-size puppets are the stars of the show, imagined and built by Handspring Puppet Company to create horses and other animals so real you'll be immersed from the get-go. The goose will blow your mind!

You'll love this unique story about Albert, his beloved horse Joey, and the horrors of the First World War that separated them. Joey is sold to the army and sent to the front line. Mourning at home in Devon, young Albert is determined to find his friend. So he sets off on a terrifying mission to bring him home. The plot explores the extraordinary power of courage and love, guaranteed to sweep you through every emotion to leave you breathless. No wonder this production is a worldwide phenomenon.

Directed by Tom Morris, with revival director Katie Henry, the Design is by Rae Smith and the lighting design is by Rob Casey. Together, music from Songmaker John Tams, sound design by Christopher Shutt and additional music by Adrian Sutton create a compelling atmosphere. Casting is by Jill Green CDG. Puppet design and fabrication comes from Handspring's Adrian Kohler, with movement and horse choreography from Toby Sedgwick and puppet direction by Matthew Forbes. And there's animation and projection design from Nicol Scott for 59 Productions.

Get your War Horse tickets early and prepare for a live experience like no other, an astonishing piece of theatre that tugs at your heartstrings every step of the way.