Adapting War Horse: Cognition, the Spectator, and a Sense of Play

This book analyses the success and adaptation of Michael Morpurgo s novel War Horse to stage, radio, live events, and feature film, in different cultures, on tours, and in translation.

In under a decade, War Horse has gone from obscure children s novel to arguably one of the world s most recognisable theatrical brands, thanks to innovative puppet designs from South Africa s Handspring Puppet Company in an acclaimed stage production from the National Theatre of Great Britain.

With emphasis on embodied spectatorship, collaborative meaning-making, and imaginative play, this book generates fresh insights into the enduring popularity of the franchise s eponymous protagonist, Joey, offering the most in-depth study of War Horse to date.