EXPLORING THE SENSES
IS IT A BOOK? IS IT A PLAY?
With the return of War Horse at the National Theatre, Oliver Nicholas takes a
longer look at the play together with the book that inspired it and explores what
else is going on in theatres over the coming months that has been stimulated by
children’s literature
War Horse
The book: Michael Morpurgo’s much loved book tells the story of
Joey, a beautiful red bay horse. Joey is sold as a foal to a drunken
farmer whose son, Albert, trains the horse to pull the plough. At the
start of the First World War, Albert’s beloved horse is sold to the
army by his father who is desperate for money. Joey leads a British
cavalry charge towards the machine guns of the enemy, is captured
by the Germans and, after ending up wounded and wandering
through no-man’s land, is eventually looked after by a French girl
and her father. The story also follows Albert who sets out to find
and save the horse he loves. Through the varied experiences of the
horse, Morpurgo brings alive the horror and atrocities of war and at
the same time has truly created a book that both enthrals the reader
and gives a wonderful insight into the First World War.
The play: For those who read and loved this book, it would have seemed like an impossible task for any
theatre company to do justice to Morpurgo’s book. They were proved wrong in 2007 when the Handspring
Puppet Company created magnificent translucent wooden structures whose mobility and fluid movement
managed to capture the very essence of the horse at the centre of this story. The National Theatre has brought
the play back to its stage and is taking bookings until 24th January. I urge everyone to take their children.
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
Horrible Histories Story telling season at The Unicorn Horrid Henry
These brilliant books by Terry Deary and Martin With 2008 being the National Year of Reading, Francesca Simon’s character, Horrid Henry,
Brown about the nastiest periods of history have The Unicorn Theatre is celebrating with a everyone’s favourite awful child, goes live. The
managed to keep millions of children interested and Storytelling Season. Playhouse Theatre in Liverpool is bringing Henry to
inspired whilst teaching them real facts about the the stage for the first time between the 11th and the
history of the world.
With Daniel Morden telling his Dark Tales From The
15th of November. The favourite characters of
Woods (21-26 October), Ben Haggarty and Tuup
Henry’s mum, his dad, Perfect Peter, Moody Margaret
The Palace Theatre, Manchester, is bringing the fun exploring the Mexican festival of the Day of the Dead
and Rude Ralph will all take part but, undoubtedly,
to the stage with a look at the awesome Egyptians (28-31 October and 1-2 November) and Sally
Henry will make sure he takes centre-stage.
and the rotten Romans and promises to tell your Pomme Clayton telling her story of The Golden
children all the foul facts that simply are not available Castle That Hung In the Air (4-9 November) there is
www.liverpooltheatreguide.com/family.htm
in the classroom. much to keep the Children happy over the coming
months and The Day of the Dead would make a
*Mexico’s “Day of the Dead” celebration (not as spooky
www.manchestertheatres.com/palacetheatre.htm
great Halloween treat.
as it sounds) is the equivalent of our “All Hallows
Eve, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day” and France’s
The Unicorn Theatre for Children, Clore Theatre, “ La Toussaint”. Mexicans visit the graves of relatives
London:
www.unicorntheatre.com on this day with offerings of food, drink and sweets
in the belief that they revisit earth on that one night
of the year!
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