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National Theatre to end War Horse despite runaway success National Theatre to end War Horse despite runaway success
(about 3 hours later)
The National Theatre’s wildly successful West End production of War Horse is to close next year after a seven-year run.The National Theatre’s wildly successful West End production of War Horse is to close next year after a seven-year run.
War Horse has been an artistic hit and a financial cash cow with the production at the New London Theatre delivering around £13.5m of extra money for the NT. War Horse has been an artistic hit and a cash cow with the production at the New London Theatre delivering around £13.5m of extra money for the NT.
The NT’s director, Rufus Norris, said the runes had been read and its time was coming to an end. “We could keep it going for longer, we could put a new cast in and drag it out, but our subsidy is to make work here and to reach out to audiences around the country.The NT’s director, Rufus Norris, said the runes had been read and its time was coming to an end. “We could keep it going for longer, we could put a new cast in and drag it out, but our subsidy is to make work here and to reach out to audiences around the country.
“We always knew it would come to an end and nobody expected it to last as long as it has.”“We always knew it would come to an end and nobody expected it to last as long as it has.”
The extra money will be missed. The announcement comes as all arts organisations brace themselves for big cuts when George Osborne announces his spending review in November.The extra money will be missed. The announcement comes as all arts organisations brace themselves for big cuts when George Osborne announces his spending review in November.
Norris said The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time was still doing brilliantly on Broadway and was strong in London but he said the NT did not need these commercial hits to balance its books.Norris said The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time was still doing brilliantly on Broadway and was strong in London but he said the NT did not need these commercial hits to balance its books.
“We need to cut our cloth which is what we are in the process of doing.” “We need to cut our cloth, which is what we are in the process of doing.”
All large arts organisations are modelling what they would do if the mooted cuts of 25% or 40% are imposed on them.All large arts organisations are modelling what they would do if the mooted cuts of 25% or 40% are imposed on them.
“We have had a 30% cut in real terms over the last six or seven years and we all know the figures that have been bandied about for the future,” said Norris. “We are looking very hard at all the options that are available to us in terms of getting a bit leaner.”“We have had a 30% cut in real terms over the last six or seven years and we all know the figures that have been bandied about for the future,” said Norris. “We are looking very hard at all the options that are available to us in terms of getting a bit leaner.”
The NT breaks even financially and Norris vowed that would continue in the future. Some of the cost-cutting options might be ending Sunday opening for part of the year or having fewer actors on stage in the Olivier.The NT breaks even financially and Norris vowed that would continue in the future. Some of the cost-cutting options might be ending Sunday opening for part of the year or having fewer actors on stage in the Olivier.
War Horse has played over 3,000 performances and been seen by 2.7 million people in London and 7 million worldwide. War Horse has played more than 3,000 performances and been seen by 2.7 million people in London and 7 million worldwide.
An adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s story of a boy and his horse set against the backdrop of the first world war, it was directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris and played two seasons at the NT before its West End opening in 2009.An adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s story of a boy and his horse set against the backdrop of the first world war, it was directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris and played two seasons at the NT before its West End opening in 2009.
After the West End closure, a UK tour will begin in the autumn of 2017 to coincide with the final centenary year of the first world war.After the West End closure, a UK tour will begin in the autumn of 2017 to coincide with the final centenary year of the first world war.
Much of the money made from the production will be spent on the NT Future project with a big chunk of the remainder paying for the temporary Shed theatre.Much of the money made from the production will be spent on the NT Future project with a big chunk of the remainder paying for the temporary Shed theatre.
Norris made the announcement as he gave details of forthcoming productions in 2016.Norris made the announcement as he gave details of forthcoming productions in 2016.
Highlights include a new translation of Brecht and Weill’s The Threepenny Opera, directed by Norris and starring Rory Kinnear; Yaël Farber will direct Les Blancs by Lorraine Hansberry, Nadia Fall will direct The Suicide by Suhayla El-Bushra; Carrie Cracknell will direct a new production of Terence Rattigan’s The Deep Blue Sea; and Howard Davies will direct Sean O’Casey’s The Plough and the Stars.Highlights include a new translation of Brecht and Weill’s The Threepenny Opera, directed by Norris and starring Rory Kinnear; Yaël Farber will direct Les Blancs by Lorraine Hansberry, Nadia Fall will direct The Suicide by Suhayla El-Bushra; Carrie Cracknell will direct a new production of Terence Rattigan’s The Deep Blue Sea; and Howard Davies will direct Sean O’Casey’s The Plough and the Stars.
Katie Mitchell will direct Cleansed, which is, remarkably, the first play by the late Sarah Kane to be staged at the NT.Katie Mitchell will direct Cleansed, which is, remarkably, the first play by the late Sarah Kane to be staged at the NT.
Another highlight will be an import from New York, Annie Baker’s Pulitzer prize winning play The Flick, directed by Sam Gold.Another highlight will be an import from New York, Annie Baker’s Pulitzer prize winning play The Flick, directed by Sam Gold.
Norris took over from Nicholas Hytner last year and was initially in charge alongside the former boss of Film4 Tessa Ross. That lasted only six months with Ross resigning after it was agreed one person should be in charge. Norris took over from Nicholas Hytner last year and was initially in charge alongside the former boss of Film4, Tessa Ross. That lasted only six months with Ross resigning after it was agreed one person should be in charge.
Norris stressed once more that the parting was an amicable one. But he revealed the key reason: “I think this place is built to be run by an artist, actually. It is such a factory, we do 30 shows a year.” Norris stressed once more that the parting was an amicable one. But he revealed the key reason: “I think this place is built to be run by an artist, actually. It is such a factory: we do 30 shows a year.”