On Sunday 19th October, best-selling author Michael Morpurgo was joined by Joey, the life-size horse puppet and star of the National Theatre’s production of War Horse visiting the poppies installation Blood Swept Lands And Seas Of Red at the Tower of London. Joey walked amongst the poppies and Michael Morpurgo planted a poppy and then returned to read the Roll of Honour.
The installation at the Tower of London, marks one hundred years since the first full day of Britain’s involvement in the First World War. Created by ceramic artist Paul Cummins, with setting by stage designer Tom Piper, 888,246 ceramic poppies will progressively fill the Tower’s famous moat over the summer. Each poppy represents a British military fatality during the war. Each of the poppies is available to buy online for £25 (+p&p) with 10% of profits and all net proceeds being donated to six service charities.
War Horse is the powerful story of a young boy called Albert and his beloved horse, Joey, who has been requisitioned to fight for the British in World War I. Caught in enemy crossfire, Joey ends up serving on both sides during the war before landing in No Man’s Land, while Albert, not old enough to enlist, embarks on a treacherous mission to find his horse and bring him home.
War Horse has been seen by over 6 million people worldwide since its premiere at the National Theatre in 2007 and continues its hugely successful run at the New London Theatre in the West End. A major tour of the production is about to embark on a visit to Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa, before it comes back to the UK for a run in Bristol in January and February 2015.
