Michael Morpurgo reads his poignant and emotionally-charged novel accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, featuring a specially-arranged score by Adrian Sutton and John Tams, inspired by the music from the National Theatre production of War Horse. Drawing live on stage, Olivier, Tony and OBIE award-winning British designer Rae Smith will create animated illustrations of Morpurgo’s book. Songs will be performed by Tim van Eyken, original songman from the National Theatre’s War Horse, with London Voices.

Young Albert’s beloved horse Joey is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France where he witnesses the brutality of World War I from both sides where, even in the desolation of the trenches, Joey’s courage touches the soldiers around him. Albert cannot forget Joey and, still not old enough to enlist, he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home.

War Horse is the powerful story of deep friendship surviving in terrible times – the power of war and the beauty of peace.

Michael Morpurgo has written more than 100 books for children and won the Whitbread Award, the Smarties Award, the Circle of Gold Award, the Children’s Book Award and has been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal four times.