Photo Flash: National Theatre's WAR HORSE Extends Booking, Oct 27, 2014

Today (9 September 2013) the National Theatre's internationally acclaimed stage production of War Horse announces the release of over 280,000 new tickets for its West End production, taking bookings at the New London Theatre to 27 October 2014.

Nick Stafford's adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's book received its world premiere at The National Theatre in October 2007 and has since been seen by over 4 million people worldwide. War Horse is currently celebrating its sixth year on the London stage.

The powerful story of a young boy called Albert and his beloved horse, Joey, who has been requisitioned to fight for the English 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. War Horse is a remarkable tale of courage, loyalty and friendship.

War Horse begins a tour of the UK and Ireland in September 2013 at Plymouth Theatre Royal and a German language production entitled Gefährten opens in October 2013 at the historic Theater des Westens in Berlin. A North American production continues to tour throughout 2013 and 2014. The Broadway production of War Horse, which completed its run at the Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theater earlier this year, was the winner of six Tony Awards including a Special Tony Award for Handspring Puppet Company. A tour with an all-Australian cast recently completed its run in Brisbane at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC.

Directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, War Horse is designed by Rae Smith, with puppet direction, design and fabrication by Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler for Handspring Puppet Company,

lighting by Paule Constable, and movement and horse choreography by Toby Sedgwick, with video design by Leo Warner and Mark Grimmer, songmaker John Tams, music by Adrian Sutton and sound by Christopher Shutt.

PLATFORM EVENTS AND ANTHEMS FOR PEACE

This autumn War Horse hosts a series of platforms and special events at the New London Theatre, as part of its ongoing behind-the-scenes programme. On 26 October, there will be an on-stage puppetry demonstration, Inside the Horse, featuring Joey, the life-size horse puppet. On 6 November, award-winning co-director Marianne Elliott will discuss the show's extraordinary journey from the rehearsal room to global phenomenon and on 10 November, the author of the original novel Michael Morpurgo joins designer Rae Smith and actor Virginia McKenna in a specially devised evening of art and song called Anthems for Peace.

26 October, 11am

Inside the Horse with Assistant Puppetry Director Jimmy Grimes

Running time 50 minutes

£4 (£3 concessions) bookable in advance

Find out how War Horse was developed - from original concept, through workshops, to first performances, and then to productions around the world. Assistant Puppetry Director Jimmy Grimes shows how the horses work, and gives us a look inside professional puppeteering.

6 November 5pm

In Conversation with Marianne Elliott

Running time 45 minutes

£4 (£3 concessions) bookable in advance

Award-winning co-director of War Horse, Marianne Elliott talks about the production's extraordinary journey, from early National Theatre workshops, to the first onstage performances and the subsequent international success.

10 November 5pm

ANTHEMS FOR PEACE

An evening of Art and Song with Michael Morpurgo, Rae Smith and Virginia McKenna

Running time 2 hours (including 20 minute interval)

£25 (plus concessions) bookable in advance

Act 1

Michael Morpurgo and Rae Smith

Finding out how the designs for the award-winning productions of War Horse were developed. From the initial concept, through workshops, to first performances and on to global productions, culminating in designer Rae Smith's upcoming illustrated version of Michael Morpurgo's original War Horse novel, set for publication in Autumn 2013.

Act 2

The Best Christmas Present in the World, directed by Simon Reade

A reading by Michael Morpurgo and Virginia McKenna of his Christmas book The Best Christmas present in the World. They will be accompanied by the trio 'Voices at the Door' singing Christmas carols from Britain, France and Flanders.

War Horse is produced in the West End by The National Theatre and National Angels.