Don’t miss the chance to see Michael performing his spellbinding storytelling live, at unforgettable events around the country and abroad.
The War Horse concert, first performed at the Albert Hall in London in 2016 will be coming to Leeds and Edinburgh this Autumn on 18 November and 25 November.
In this unmissable performance, Michael reads his emotionally-charged War Horse story live, alongside a specially arranged score by Adrian Sutton, performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and video artwork featuring drawings by acclaimed artist Rae Smith.
In the month marking the centenary of the end of the conflict, this special event returns War Horse to its original conception. This is an extraordinary event for children, adults and families alike, celebrating the power of friendship in the darkest of times.
The Petworth Festival on 27th October will feature Michael again reading War Horse, alongside Clare Louise Connolly, and accompanied by Ben Murray, the former song-man from the National Theatre production.
Other books are also being performed as concerts this Christmas including a special Christmas concert of Best Christmas Present in the World in Henley on 7 December. Watch the diary for more information and how to order tickets. This event will be in aid of Farms for City Children.
And finally, Michael will be returning to Ypres in Belgium on 16 December for a special concert inspired by one of his new books this Autumn – Poppy Fields, alongside frequent collaborators Voices at the Door. This is the first performance of a new words and music production adapted by Georgina Boyes and Vicki Berwick. As Michael explains, “The best known poem of the First World War is probably ‘In Flanders Fields’, by the Canadian John McCrae. I wrote Poppy Field around the creation of that much read, much loved poem and set in a field in Flanders near Yprès, the story of a soldier poet, his poem and a Belgian family caught up in the fighting. We often forget the families, the civilians who suffered and so often died. We forget too that the suffering and dying goes on for so many, long after the war has ended. They should be remembered too.”
Info and tickets:
27 October
War Horse at the Petworth Literary Festival
18 November
War Horse: The Story in Concert Usher Hall, Edinburgh
Narrated by Michael Morpurgo with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, conducted by David Charles Abell
25 November
War Horse: The Story in Concert Town Hall, Leeds
Narrated by Michael Morpurgo with the Orchestra of Opera North, conducted by David Angus
7th December
Best Christmas Present in the World
(booking details to be announced)
16 December
Poppy Fields performed with Voices at the Door in Ypres
