Nearly two decades after it first captured audiences, the National Theatre’s landmark production of War Horse returns to the Olivier stage, with Journey’s animation and projection design helping bring one of theatre’s most powerful stories vividly to life.

First staged at the National Theatre in 2007, War Horse has become one of the most celebrated theatrical productions of its generation. Based on Michael Morpurgo’s beloved novel and adapted by Nick Stafford, the production tells the story of Albert and his horse Joey against the backdrop of the First World War. Since its debut, it has been seen by more than 8.8 million people worldwide, performed in over 100 cities across 15 countries, and won more than 25 major awards, including the Tony Award for Best Play.

At the heart of the production is a powerful fusion of live performance, puppetry, music and moving image. Journey’s animation and projection design carries audiences from the fields of rural Devon to the battlefields of wartime France, using Rae Smith’s distinctive drawings alongside bespoke animation to create an evocative visual language that feels hand drawn, cinematic and deeply human

Projected onto a 25 metre wide, irregular screen resembling a torn strip of paper, the animated designs echo the notebook carried by Captain Nicholls, an early figure in Albert and Joey’s story. This shifting visual canvas becomes both landscape and memory, expanding the stage world through charcoal inspired imagery that captures the scale and emotional intensity of the First World War.

The return of War Horse in 2026 marks a continuation of 59 Studio’s long-standing relationship with the National Theatre, which now continues as part of Journey. For this refreshed run, the animation and video projections have been updated in collaboration with set designer and artist Rae Smith, supporting a new generation of audiences as they encounter the story for the first time.

The production is brought to life by the astonishing life sized horse puppets of Handspring Puppet Company, alongside a stirring musical score by Adrian Sutton and songs by John Tams. Within this richly layered theatrical world, Journey’s projection design remains an essential part of the storytelling, helping transform the stage into a moving, expressionistic place of love, courage, loss and friendship.

War Horse is showing at the National Theatre, London until 30 July 2026. Tickets here.