Michael Morpurgo News

Today, 5 November 2010, a further 130,000 tickets are being released for the National Theatre's production of War Horse taking bookings at the New London Theatre to 18 February 2012.

War Horse, Nick Stafford's adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's book, has been playing to packed houses at the New London Theatre where it continues to delight and thrill audiences following a transfer from the National Theatre to the West End in March 2009.

A new charity, Families of the Fallen, has been set up to provide extra funding for the families and other dependants of members of the UK's armed forces who have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq. It will be officially launched on November 11 at a special Remembrance Day performance of the acclaimed play War Horse, with the National Theatre generously donating all proceeds from sales of tickets made using the promotion code 3030. A special fund-raising reception after the show will hear from the play's author, Michael Morpurgo, and Sally Thorneloe, widow of Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe, Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, who was killed by an explosion in Helmand Province.

New London Theatre, Drury Lane, London WC2B 5PW presents War Horse, currently booking until 22 October 2011

It has been announced that Steven Spielberg is set to adapt War Horse into a feature length film. Last year the filmmaker purchased rights to Michael Morpurgo's novel, and has now confirmed that he will be directing the project as well.

The WICKED Young Writers' Award is proud to announce Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall as its patron from April 2010. The Award is separated into five categories between the ages of 5-25 and allows young people from across the UK and Northern Ireland to enter a piece of writing on a theme or subject of their choice. The final date for entries is Saturday 31 July 2010. Schools and individuals can download entry forms and find tips on entering the WICKED Young Writers' Award at www.WickedYoungWriters.com.

Variety reports today that John Guare's FREE MAN OF COLOR, which will premiere at Lincoln Center next season, is the recipient of a $100,000 grant from National Actors Theater Foundation. The Tony Randall Theatrical Fund has granted Lincoln Center an additiona, undisclosed amount of money to help support it's production of non-profit shows. Both organizations are run by late actor Tony Randall's daughter, Heather.

Today, 27 April, the National Theatre's award-winning production of War Horse will release new tickets for sale, taking bookings at the New London Theatre up to 22 October 2011.

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) has announced plans to produce the New York premiere of A MINISTER'S WIFE, a new musical adapted from George Bernard Shaw's Candida by Austin Pendelton, with music by Joshua Schmidt and lyrics by Jan Tranen during its 2010-2011 season. A MINISTER'S WIFE, which was conceived and will be directed by Michael Halberstam, will begin performances Thursday, April 7, 2011 and opening on Thursday, May 5, 2011 at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater (150 West 65 Street).

Video highlights of the 2010 Olivier Awards!

All the news from the Grosvenor as UK theatre's most prestigious gongs are given out...Mark Rylance and Rachel Weisz win actor/actress, Iwan Rheon, Samantha Spiro and Aneurin Barnard win the musical awards, with Wicked picking up the brand-new audience award and Spring Awakening getting the nod for best new musical

The Olivier Awards take place on Sunday evening - and you can follow all the news here!

The 2010 Olivier Awards will take place on 21 March 2010 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, with Spring Awakening, Enron, Jerusalem and A Little Night Music among the standouts of the season with the most nominations. The Laurence Olivier Awards were established in 1976 as The Society of West End Theatre Awards, and Lord Olivier agreed to have his name associated with them in 1984. The Awards are run by The Society of London Theatre but are adjudicated by panels that are equally made up of members of the theatregoing public and experts chosen for their knowledge and professional experience. For more information and updates, visit www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/olivier_awards.

The hugely successful West End musical Wicked launches a groundbreaking new educational award today to recognise excellence in writing, encourage creativity and help develop writing talent in young people nationwide.

The National Theatre's award-winning production of War Horse which has recently released new tickets for sale taking bookings at the New London Theatre to 12 February 2011, today announces confirmed plans for Broadway.

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) announced three productions that it will produce during the 2010-2011 season at the Vivian Beaumont Theater and on Broadway. The first, a musical version of the Pedro Almodóvar film WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, with book by Jeffrey Lane, music and lyrics by David Yazbek and direction by Bartlett Sher, will begin previews Saturday, October 2 when it will reopen the newly restored Belasco Theatre (111 W. 44 Street). Opening night is Thursday, November 4.

Today, 23 June, the National Theatre's award-winning production of War Horse will release over 150,000 new tickets for sale, taking bookings at the New London Theatre up to 12 February 2010. The National's sell-out production of Nick Stafford's adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's book transferred to the West End in March this year where it has been playing to packed houses ever since. Last week, just 12 weeks after its opening at the New London Theatre, War Horse recouped its transfer costs, having had a record breaking week of sales in May of over £330,000.

Today, 23 June, the National Theatre's award-winning production of War Horse will release over 150,000 new tickets for sale, taking bookings at the New London Theatre up to 12 February 2010. The National's sell-out production of Nick Stafford's adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's book transferred to the West End in March this year where it has been playing to packed houses ever since. Last week, just 12 weeks after its opening at the New London Theatre, War Horse recouped its transfer costs, having had a record breaking week of sales in May of over £330,000.

The next Olivier Awards will take place on 21 March 2010.

New Perspectives will present the first ever English rural touring production of Brian Friel's Faith Healer.