War Horse goes to Belgium to mark the centenary of the Christmas truce in the first world war

To commemorate 100 years since the famous Christmas Truce took place, Michael Morpurgo brought Joey, the world-famous War Horse puppet, home to Ypres.

“Joey may have been born in my mind’s eye, on the farm in Devon where I live … But the roots of his story and my story go back to Belgium. He is in a very real sense coming home … you feel very moved, because he seems to have come to represent all victims of war, be they animal or human.”
As well as visiting two commemorative locations, Michael was joined by the actress Virginia Mckenna and acapella singers Voices at the Door, for a concert of the Christmas Truce story.

Michael explained,

“…the actress Virginia Mckenna … plays the old lady in this story, and she and I tell the story between us. And we have these wonderful acapella singers… they sing [the carols] in French and German and in Flemish and in English. It really represents what this story is all about.”

Watch a video clip of the performance at deredactie.be

Read The Guardian article online

Other Articles

I BELIEVE IN UNICORNS BY MICHAEL MORPURGO

I Believe in Unicorns 2105 at Vaudeville Theatre Photo Credit: Richard Davenport. Award-winning storyteller Danyah Miller brings best-selling children’s author Michael Morpurgo’s treasured story to life. This intimate show is set in a library full of books that hold more than stories within their pages. It is a tale of… Read More

The Mozart Question at The Barn Theatre, Cirencester

Three years in the planning, the Exclusive World Premiere of Sir Michael Morpurgo’s ‘The Mozart Question’ opens at the Barn on the 21st March until the 30th April. Regarded by Michael as his most important work, ‘The Mozart Question’ follows Paolo Levi, a violin impresario, as he recounts his parent’s… Read More

Private Peaceful UK theatre tour

Now touring until 9 July 2022 The Peaceful brothers, Tommo and Charlie, have a tough rural childhood facing the loss of their father, financial hardship and a cruel landlord. Their fierce loyalty to each other pulls them through, until one day they both fall for the same girl. And then… Read More