“So exhilarating that it makes you rejoice to be alive …. Its sheer skill and invention are simply awe-inspiring” ….. “An extraordinary piece of theatre … guaranteed to move the heart” …. “Electrifying” …. “As an example of how theatre can be created from disparate components – puppetry, lighting, movement and sound – War Horse will not be surpassed by any show this year.” These are just some of the rave reviews that greeted the National Theatre’s spectacular, award-winning, puppet-led production, War Horse, when it first opened in 2007. Now after over 200 sold-out performances at the National’s Olivier Theatre, the show has been transferred to the New London Theatre in the West End.
Adapted from the novel by Michael Morpurgo, War Horse is set at the outbreak of World War One and tells the story of Joey, the beloved horse of young Albert, who is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France. But Albert cannot forget his horse, and embarks on a treacherous mission to the trenches to find him and bring him home.
The story is told by actors working with spectacular life-size puppets created by the Handspring Puppet Company who, along with designer Rae Smith, won an Olivier Award for the show last year; the design is completed by an Olivier-award nominated lighting design by Paule Constable.
Supplying the lighting rig for Paule Constable’s design, leading entertainment lighting supplier White Light worked closely with Constable, associate lighting designer Nick Simmons, assistant lighting designer Beky Stoddart, production electrician Gerry Amies and the National’s Mike Atkinson to ensure that the new rig precisely re-created the acclaimed design from the National. A combination was used of both rented equipment and equipment purchased, which is subsequently to be added to the National Theatre’s equipment stock.
The rig for the New London includes automated lighting from Vari-Lite (VL3000Q Washes, VL1000 AS Spots), ETC (Revolutions) and DHA Lighting (Digital Light Curtains), conventionals from ETC (Source Fours, Source Pars), Strand (Alto 2.5kW PCs, Bambino 5kW Fresnels), Thomas (Par64s), R&V (1kW Beamlight followspots with DMX-controlled dimmer shutters), Arri (2.5kW HMI Fresnels), Robert Juliat (D’Artagnan HMI profile) and Rainbow (Rainbow Pro scrollers in a range of sizes). Atmospheric effects are generated from MDG Atmosphere and Look Solutions Unique haze machines and Viper smoke machines. The entire rig is controlled from an ETC Ion console.
War Horse opened at the New London Theatre on March 28th; further information about the show is available from www.warhorselondon.com.
The show joins the many others in London and around the UK using lighting equipment from White Light, these currently including Beauty and the Beast, Billy Elliot, Carousel, Chicago, Dirty Dancing, Grease, Les Misérables, Mary Poppins, Singing In The Rain, Sister Act, We Will Rock You, and The Witches of Eastwick. Further information about the full range of products and services offered by the company, including lighting hire, sales, installation and service, can be found at www.WhiteLight.Ltd.uk.
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