War Horse Cast Announced as Rehearsals Commence

The National Theatre of Great Britain and Global Creatures have announced the cast of the Australian production of the multiple Tony and Olivier Award-winning show War Horse. Rehearsals commenced today (October 2) in Sydney, with the cast and creative team coming together to start work on this unique stage production.

The War Horse cast is an ensemble of 33 actors including newcomer Cody Fern, a Sydney-based actor who takes on the role of Albert Narracott, the young boy whose beloved horse, Joey, is sold to the cavalry at the outbreak of World War I.  Cody is making his major stage role debut in this production.

Melbourne-based actor Ian Bliss takes on the role of Ted Narracott, Albert's father. Familiar to audiences from a long list of television credits, Ian brings a wealth of experience to the emotional role of the tragic farmer in the Australian production of War Horse. Green Room award winner and AFI nominee Natasha Herbert brings her considerable stage experience to the role of Albert's mother, Rose Narracott and UK born Nicholas Bell plays Albert’s uncle Arthur in War Horse. Nicholas made his mark in British theatre as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company before moving to Australia where he is now a familiar face in theatre, television and film.

Twelve members of the 33 Australian ensemble cast will create theatrical magic as the life force behind War Horse’s eighteen puppets. They will bring breathing, galloping, charging horses, created by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, to life on stage. The puppeteers, working with these dynamic puppets, will lead Australian audiences on an emotionally-charged journey through history.

Directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, War Horse is designed by Rae Smith, with puppet 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; the puppetry directors are Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler, with video design by Leo Warner and Mark Grimmer, songmaker John Tams, music by Adrian Sutton and sound by Christopher Shutt.

War Horse will hold its Australian premiere in Melbourne onNew Year’s Eve at Arts Centre Melbourne’s State Theatre. After the Melbourne season War Horse will travel to Sydney for a season at the Lyric Theatre from Saturday 16 March and to Brisbane for a season at Lyric Theatre from Saturday 6 July.

MELBOURNE – ARTS CENTRE STATE THEATRE

Bookings: www.artscentremelbourne.com.au or 1300 182 183

Previews: Sunday, 23 December to Sunday, 30 December 2012

Opening Performance: Monday, 31 December 2012

Season: Wednesday 2 January, 2013 – March 3, 2013

SYDNEY – THE LYRIC THEATRE

Bookings: www.ticketmaster.com.au or 1300 795 267

Previews: Saturday 16^th March to Wednesday 20^th 2013

Opening Performance: Thursday 21^st March 2013

Season: Friday 22^nd March – Sunday 30^th June 2013

BRISBANE – THE LYRIC THEATRE

Bookings:  www.qpac.com.au or 136 246

Previews:  Saturday 6^th July – Wednesday 10^th July 2013

Opening Performance: Thursday 11^th July 2013

Season: Friday 12th July– Sunday 4^th August 2013

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