Full cast revealed for WAR HORSE at the National Theatre

Shehrazade Zafar-Arif 20 March, 2026, 13:32

Casting has been announced for War Horse, which will return to the National Theatre this spring, almost twenty years after its premiere.

war horse new wimbledon theatre Image provided by production.

Based on Michael Morpurgo's novel, War Horse is set during the outbreak of World War I, and follows a boy named Albert, whose beloved horse Joey is sold to the cavalry and sent to France. Unable to enlist, Albert embarks on a quest from rural Devon to the battlefields of Europe to find Joey and bring him home, in a powerful story of friendship, loyalty, and the horrors of war, featuring iconic life-sized puppets.

The play is adapted by Nick Stafford, and was originally directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris. Since its debut in 2007, it has become the most commercially successful production in the National Theatre's history, with over 25 awards, including the Tony Award for Best Play, under its belt. This revival is created by Tom Morris, with revival direction by Katie Henry. The creative team includes set and costume designer Rae Smith, puppet designer Adrian Kohler for Handspring Puppet Company, lighting designer Rob Casey, movement and horse choreography director Toby Sedgwick, puppetry director Matthew Forbes, and animation and projection designer Nicol Scott for 59.

The 35-strong cast is led by Tom Sturgess as Albert Narracott. The full ensemble cast of actors and world-class puppeteers includes Anita Adam Gabay (Emilie/Joey as a Foal), Rianna Ash (Joey/Topthorn head), Eloise Beaumont-Wood (Joey as a Foal), Stephen Beckett (Ted Narracott/Strauss), Ike Bennett (David Taylor/Thomas Bone), Jo Castleton (Rose Narracott), Owen Dagnall (Geordie/Alternate Albert), Alexandra Donnachie (Joey/Topthorn head), Felicity Donnelly (Joey/Topthorn hind), Sam Goodchild (Joey/Topthorn hind), Danny Hendrix (Vet Martin), Jasmin Hinds (Matron Callaghan), Linford Johnson (Sergeant Fine), Andrew Keay (Joey/Topthorn hind), Nicholas Khan (Arthur Narracott/Brandt), Manuel Klein (Friedrich/Priest), Michael Larcombe (Joey/Topthorn hind), Matthew Lawrence (Joey/Topthorn head), Madeleine Leslay (Paulette/Sarah Carter), Wade Lewin (Joey/Topthorn head), Jack Lord (Klausen/Allan), Damian Lynch (Thunder/Carter), Lewis McBean (Joey/Topthorn heart), Chris Milford (Joey/Topthorn heart), Corey Montague-Sholay (Billy Narracott/Klebb), Jordan Paris (Joey as a Foal), Anne-Marie Piazza (Nell Allan/Schnabel), Daniel Rock (Captain Stewart/Ludwig), Simon Stanhope (Manfred), Sally Swanson (The Singer), Lucy Thorburn (Jenny Bone/Annie Gilbert), Christopher Williams (Captain Nicholls/Dr Schewyk), Niko Wirachman (Joey/Topthorn heart) and Rafe Young (Joey/Topthorn heart).