For Immediate Release

The National Theatre of Great Britain’s Olivier and Tony Award® -Winning production Debuts in Hong Kong Tonight!

See the Award-Winning Life-sized Horse Puppet Joey on Stage

[HONG KONG, 10 May, 2019] War Horse, the unforgettable theatrical event from the National Theatre of Great Britain, producers of the smash-hit production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, will have its debut at the Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts tonight and its star-studded gala premiere tomorrow, 11 May. The Gala Night audience will include invited VIPs, show sponsors and a host of local celebrities such as Cecil Chao, Gigi Chao, Stephen Chan, Ankie Beilke, Vincci Cheuk, Sabrina Leung, Bianca Wu, Cheung Tat-Ming, Geoff Wong, Cecilia Yip, Rita Carpio and Tony Cruz.

Earlier this afternoon, members of the media were invited to a special preview, with the cast and the Tony Award® -Winning puppets – Joey and his war-time companion Topthorn – performing selected show scenes live on stage. The first scene, ‘Muybridge’ introduced Joey and Albert as they galloped across the fields of rural Devon, and the second scene, ‘Second Charge’, transported the audience to the battlefields of France.

Presenter and CEO of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, James Cundall, said “When War Horse first arrived on the London stage it became the talk of the worldwide theatre scene overnight. It is one of those rare plays that EVERYONE talks about, with the directive ‘you HAVE to see it’! The puppetry is ground-breaking and reminds me why I work in the theatre business. It is finally Hong Kong’s turn to experience this astonishing, unforgettable piece of theatre tonight! Prepare to be moved.”

War Horse will continue to captivate Hong Kong audiences until 2 June 2019 at the Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Tickets are available online at www.hkticketing.com, or by phone 31-288-288. Book now to avoid disappointment!

‘Magical. Moving. World Class in every way.’ The Times, UK

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Nick Stafford’s adaptation of ’s remarkable tale of courage, loyalty and friendship tells the story of a young boy called Albert and his horse Joey, set against the backdrop of the First World War. This powerfully moving and imaginative drama is a show of phenomenal inventiveness, filled with stirring music and songs, featuring ground-breaking puppetry work by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, which brings breathing, galloping horses to life on stage.

The winner of more than 25 international awards, including the Tony Award® for Best Play on Broadway, War Horse received its world premiere on 9 October 2007 at the National Theatre where it played for two seasons before opening at the New London Theatre in March 2009. Since then, War Horse has been seen by eight million people worldwide in 98 cities in 11 countries, including productions on Broadway, in Toronto and Berlin, with touring productions in the UK and Ireland, North America, the Netherlands, Belgium and China.

At the outbreak of World War One, Joey, young Albert’s beloved horse, is sold to the Cavalry and shipped to France. He’s soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary journey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man’s land. Albert, who remained on his parents’ Devon farm, cannot forget Joey. Though still not old enough to enlist he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home.

“Majestic, magnificent. Not to be missed.” Chicago Tribune

Michael Morpurgo said: “I’m thrilled that Joey, the War Horse, and his great team from the National Theatre have finally arrived in Hong Kong, and that so many more people have the chance to enjoy this unique theatrical event.”

War Horse is directed by Marianne Elliott, director of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night- Time, and . It is designed by Rae Smith, with puppet direction, design and fabrication by Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler for Handspring Puppet Company. Lighting is by Paule Constable, movement and horse choreography by Toby Sedgwick, with video design by Leo Warner and Mark Grimmer for 59 Productions. The songmaker is John Tams, with music by Adrian Sutton and sound by Christopher Shutt.

Katie Henry is the UK & International Tour Director and Charlotte Peters is the Associate Director. Craig Leo and Matthew Forbes are the Associate Puppetry Directors. They are joined by Resident Director, Charlie Kenber and Resident Puppetry Director, Gareth Aled.

War Horse is presented in Hong Kong by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and the National Theatre of Great Britain.

The Title Sponsor of War Horse Hong Kong season is American Express Hong Kong. The Official Ocean Carrier is OOCL, Official Hotel is Harbour Plaza North Point and Official Sponsor is Asia Miles.

ENDS

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Ticketing Information

War Horse Performance Dates: From 10th May – 2nd June, 2019 Venue: Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, 1 Gloucester Road, Wanchai

Show Dates Show Times Tuesday to Friday 7:45pm Saturday 2:00pm & 7:45pm Sunday 1:00pm & 6:00pm

Standard Ticket Prices: $1,245 (West End Package), $1,045 (VIP), $795 (A Reserve), $595 (B Reserve), $395 (C Reserve)

Student Ticket Prices* $872 (VIP) / $672 (A Reserve)/ $495 (B Reserve)

Family Package* (A set of 4 tickets): $3,488 (VIP) / $2,688 (A Reserve) / $1,320 (B Reserve)

School Package# $645 (A Reserve)/ $495 (B Reserve)

Ticket prices are exclusive of HK Ticketing service charge and courier fees

*A limited number of tickets for Full-Time Students and Family packages (a set of 4 tickets) are available in above mentioned price range for all performances (excluding Fri & Sat evenings).

#School package is available for student groups of over 30. One teacher or chaperone ticket free with every 10 student group tickets purchased, valid for the same performance. A limited number of pre-show workshops and talks will be available for those making a school booking. For details, please contact: [email protected] or 2542 2810.

The show is recommended for 10 years of age or above. Children under 3 years of age will not be admitted. All persons entering the theatre, regardless of age, must have a ticket.

Tickets can be purchased via HK Ticketing as follows: - HK Ticketing hotline: 31 288 288 - HK Ticketing website: www.hkticketing.com - HK Ticketing outlets: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, The Academy’s Landmark Heritage Campus-Bethanie, AsiaWorld-Expo, Kowloon Bay International Trade & Exhibition Centre, and all Tom Lee Music outlets

For more information, please visit www.warhorseonstagehk.com For more updates, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/warhorsehk/

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Notes to Editors  Production images are available here: https://bit.ly/2zP2jkw  EPK available here: https://bit.ly/2L6S4O3

About the Producers

The National Theatre of Great Britain

The National Theatre’s mission is to make world class theatre that’s entertaining, challenging and inspiring – and to make it for everyone. It aims to reach the widest possible audience and to be as inclusive, diverse and national as possible with a broad range of productions that play in London, on tour around the UK, on Broadway and across the globe. The National Theatre's extensive UK-wide learning and participation programme supports young people’s creative education through performance and writing programmes like Connections, New Views and Let’s Play. Its major new initiative Public Acts creates extraordinary acts of theatre and community; the first Public Acts production was 2018’s Pericles. The National Theatre extends its reach through digital programmes including NT Live, which broadcasts some of the best of British theatre to over 2,500 venues in 65 countries, and the free streaming service On Demand In Schools, used by nearly 60% of UK state secondary schools. The National Theatre invests in the future of theatre by developing talent, creating bold new work and building audiences, partnering with a range of UK theatres and theatre companies.

National Theatre Productions aims to maximise opportunities to extend the life of NT productions without subsidy in London’s West End, throughout the UK and around the world. Current and recent productions include A Taste of Honey, Barber Shop Chronicles, The Lehman Trilogy, Home, I’m Darling, Network, Nine Night, Macbeth, Beginning, War Horse, Hedda Gabler, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Angels in America, People, Places & Things and Jane Eyre.

The National Theatre is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.

For more information, please visit https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/. @NationalTheatre @NT_PressOffice

About Lunchbox Theatrical Productions

Founded in Hong Kong in 1992 by James Cundall, Lunchbox Theatrical Productions has established an unrivalled reputation for producing top quality international entertainment across five continents, and is now headquartered in the United Kingdom with companies in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore and The Philippines.

Productions include musicals such as Cats, The Phantom of the , Les Miserables, Wicked, Mamma Mia, West Side Story and Chicago; spectaculars such as Riverdance and Cirque du Soleil’s Alegria; boutique shows such as Stomp, Tap Dogs, Slava’s Snowshow, Potted Potter, Circus Oz and Barry Humphries’ Farewell Tour ‘Eat, Pray, Laugh!’; musical concerts including Thriller Live, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Abba Mania; international artists Jamie Oliver, Rick Stein and Elaine Paige; plays such as The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, The Woman in Black, The Mousetrap and The 39 Steps; children’s shows Thomas the Tank Engine and Barney’s Space Adventures; events such as Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre (a pop-up Elizabethan theatre staging four Shakespeare plays) and Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland (an outdoor Christmas ice rink and funfair) in York, UK and The Last Night of for the Hong Kong Handover; and The Imperial Ice Stars’ productions of The Sleeping Beauty on Ice, Swan Lake on Ice, Cinderella on Ice and The Nutcracker on Ice.

As well as producing this portfolio of shows, James Cundall spent the first five months of 2010 based in Shanghai, as Producer of the Outdoor Opening Ceremony of Expo 2010 Shanghai China, on behalf of David Atkins Enterprises.

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About Lunchbox Theatrical Productions (Cont’d)

In addition to War Horse in Hong Kong and New Zealand, upcoming 2019 productions include: Matilda The Musical in Hong Kong; The Mousetrap in New Zealand; The Phantom of the Opera in Manila, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur; Peter Pan On Ice in South Africa; Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre in York and Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, UK; Countryfile Live in York, UK; The Nutcracker On Ice in Wales, UK and Cats in Manila and Singapore.

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For enquiries please contact: The above press release is issued by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions Ltd. through PRO Marketing Services Company Limited To download images, press material and information on War Horse please visit: http://www.propublicity.com/ProMWeb/public/News.aspx For further Information and interview requests, please contact: PRO Marketing Services Company Limited Catherine Cheung and Heidi Ng Ph: (852) 2851 1482 Mob: (852) 9466 4743 Email: [email protected]