War Horse - Joey: the Horse Puppet

Photograph depicting a life-sized horse puppet (character name Joey) designed by Adrian Kohler and Basil Jones of Handspring Puppet Company from the National Theatre production of 'War Horse'.
On stage, Joey is operated by three puppeteers – the Head, the Heart and the Hind – who work together to create the character and noises of the horse.

Based on Michael Morpurgo’s novel and adapted for the stage by Nick Stafford, War Horse’s narrative travels from the fields of rural Devon to the trenches of First World War France. It was designed by Rae Smith with life-size puppets by the Handspring Puppet Company, and animated video projections by 59 Productions.

Designs and drawings by Rae Smith
Directed by Marianne Elliott & Tom Morris
From the novel 'War Horse' by Michael Morpurgo
Adapted for the stage by Nick Stafford
Puppet design and fabrication by Basil Jones & Adrian Kohler (Handspring Puppet Company)
Direction of movement and horse choreography by Toby Sedgwick
Lighting by Paule Constable
Music by Adrian Sutton
Music direction by Harvey Brough
Sound designs by Christopher Shutt
Animation, video & projections designs by Leo Warner & Mark Grimmer (59 Productions Ltd)

War Horse premiered at the National Theatre in London on the 17th October 2007 and continues to be performed around the world to the present day.

Location: Olivier Theatre at the National Theatre, London.
Length: 3 hours (including 20 minutes interval)

[Location in NT archive: RNT/PR/3/690]
© Simon Annand