NewsPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at the West End's War Horse With "Team Topthorn"The West End production of War Horse continues to wow audiences and is currently booking through Feb. 15, 2014. Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis — the trio of puppeteers who bring rival horse Topthorn to life — share a recent two-show day.
By
Matthew Blank
May 16, 2013
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at the West End's War Horse With "Team Topthorn"
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at the West End's War Horse With "Team Topthorn"
The West End production of War Horse continues to wow audiences and is currently booking through Feb. 15, 2014. Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis — the trio of puppeteers who bring rival horse Topthorn to life — share a recent two-show day. Read the Playbill.com story.
32 PHOTOS
Good morning! Busy day ahead including a morning of understudy rehearsals, then two shows! Time to shave for Richard (cut throat style!) and Antony, whereas Sergio and his baby face get an extra few minutes in bed.
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
Energy packed breakfast for the Topthorn team. With an extra something for Sergio; antibiotics to fight his throat infection!
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
Heading to the theatre, through Covent Garden and around the corner to the New London Theatre.
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
Bright and early at Stage Door, with Ashleigh Cheadle (Joey as a foal) and Tom Meredith (Unteroffizier Klebb/Luwig/Goose).
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
If you're name isn't on Leon's list, you ain't getting in at Stage Door!
Welcome to Dressing Room 9. It's cramped and loud, but it's a happy home.
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
As a full cast, we all warm up together with cardio exercises and some Pilates (commonly mistaken for a group prayer!)
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
Horse Fight On Stage! Before every show, the horse teams run through the horse fight between Joey and Topthorn. The Topthorn team stop to graze before the fight...
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
…a quick sneak peek of what the Hind puppeteer Antony sees inside Topthorn.
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
A quick chat after the fight, with Puppetry Assistant Jimmy Grimes.
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
Post-warm up, pre-show power nap in Dressing Room 9.
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
Mic Check! The Topthorn team mics. Notice the names of the different teams and actors who take turns playing the part. It is the responsibility of all three puppeteers to create the horse sounds of Topthorn.
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
Richard putting on - or shall we say trying and failing to put on, to the amusement of Derek Arnold (Joey/Topthorn hind) - his Topthorn costume gaiters (protective clothing for your ankles and legs below the knee and are typically worn for horse riding).
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
Time for curtains up! Ready in our opening villager outfits, dressed as Reggie Westcott, Adam Piper and Samuel Clotsworthy!
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
Victoria Ralph (Assitant Stage Manager), makes sure we are all accounted for backstage, before we start the show… and unwillingly doubles as a clothes horse.
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
Natasha Kirby (Sound No 3) does a quick mic-check on Sergio before the show starts
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
Everyone is in their seats, waiting for the show to start… and we're off!
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
Topthorn and the Joey team (Nicholas Hart on Head, Andrew London on Heart and Sam Wilmott on Hind) grabbing a quick water break in-between scenes.
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
Water break! Throughout the show, we need to stay hydrated at any possible moment.
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
First show… DONE! Nice one, boys of dressing room 9.
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
In-between shows, its time for all the cast to sit down and eat.
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
A bit of "Bally" to unwind / get wound up about! It's a game of concentration and quick reflexes. Remember, it's all about the "Strong Refing!" Nothing like a bit of healthy competition to keep us all together.
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
Another show, another pre-show horse fight practice. This time, the team in charge of Joey's action packed moves are Nigel Allen on Head, Michael Taibi on Heart and Lewis Peploe on Hind.
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
The Topthorn team ready for the second show… as is the Dressing room 9 gremlin, Darren Cockrill (Joey/Topthorn Heart).
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
Getting ready for show 2, with Steve King (Deputy Stage Management) "calling" the show from the gallery.
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
Antony's pre-show ritual with Zoe Thorn (Emilie); two pecks on the cheek for good luck.
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
Another sneak peak; show two has just started. Baby Joe is taking his first steps, with Tamsin Fessey on Head, Ashleigh Cheadle on Heart and Emma Thornett on Hind.
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
A quick costume change during show 2. Richard putting his putties on (part of the British Army uniform in WWI). He manages that a bit better than his Topthorn gaiters…
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
More costume changes, this time for Sergio. When he dreamt about getting into show business, he had a different ideas about make-up…
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
More costume changes, but a quick chance for Sergio to put his German muddy feet up.
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
And so, the day is over! Sensible people - like Sergio - head home to rest. Whereas others, like Antony and Richard celebrate and unwind for a swift drink in the local pub…
Antony Antunes, Richard Booth and Sergio Priftis
And so, CHEERS to everyone involved in a great day.
War Horse, shuttered at Broadway's Vivian Beaumont Theater, has now been seen by over 1.6 million people in London and by over three million people worldwide, since premiering at London's National Theatre in October 2007.
The new West End cast from March 9 comprises Gareth Aled (Joey/Topthorn Head), Nigel Allen (Joey/Topthorn Head), Antony Antunes (Topthorn Hind), Derek Arnold (Joey / Topthorn Hind), Alex Avery (Captain Nicholls), Oliver Beamish (Sergeant Allan), Richard Booth (Topthorn Head), Alistair Brammer (Billy Narracott), Ashleigh Cheadle (Baby Joey), Eke Chukwu (Rudi), Darren Cockrill (Joey /Topthorn Heart), Ewen Cummins (Chapman Carter / Soldat Schmidt), Tamsin Fessey (Baby Joey), Nicholas Hart (Joey Head), Paul Hawkyard (Sergeant Thunder), Tom Hodgkins (Arthur Narracott), Jamie Kenna (Ted Narracott), Pieter Lawman (John Greig), Andrew London (Joey Heart), Brian Lonsdale (Thomas Bone), Josh McCord (David Taylor), Dogan Mehmet (Songman), Tom Meredith (Goose /Unteroffizier Klebb), Ben Murray (Songman), Steve North (Dr Schweyk/Sergeant Fine), Lewis Peploe (Joey/Topthorn Hind), Sergio Priftis (Topthorn Heart), William Rycroft (Captain Stewart), Jack Sandle (Gefreiter Karl), Ian Shaw (Friedrich Muller), Michael Taibi (Joey/Topthorn Heart), Zoe Thorne (Emilie), Emma Thornett (Baby Joey/Paulette), Josie Walker (Rose Narracott), Brendan Wall (Vet Martin/Priest/Johann Schnabel), Sam Wilmott (Joey Hind) and Sion Daniel Young (Albert Narracott). Written by Nick Stafford and directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, War Horse is designed by Rae Smith, with puppet direction, design and fabrication by Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler for Handspring Puppet Company, lighting by Paule Constable, and movement and horse choreography by Toby Sedgwick; with video design by Leo Warner and Mark Grimmer, songmaker John Tams, music by Adrian Sutton and sound by Christopher Shutt.
War Horse is produced in the West End by the National Theatre and National Angels.
To book tickets, contact the National Theatre Box Office (with no booking fees) on 020 7452 3000 or visit www.warhorselondon.com. To book tickets from the venue (with booking fees), contact the box office on 0844 412 4654 or visit www.seetickets.com.
