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Adapting War Horse

Cognition, the Spectator, and a Sense of Play

Palgrave Macmillan

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Table of contents (7 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
  2. Introduction: Playing the War Horse Game

    • Toby Malone, Chris Jackman
    Pages 1-7
  3. “We Get to Know Him”

    • Toby Malone, Chris Jackman
    Pages 9-28
  4. “Making Fit”

    • Toby Malone, Chris Jackman
    Pages 29-38
  5. Spectatorship as Embodied Practice

    • Toby Malone, Chris Jackman
    Pages 39-49
  6. Animated Horse Play

    • Toby Malone, Chris Jackman
    Pages 51-65
  7. Emotional Promises

    • Toby Malone, Chris Jackman
    Pages 67-77
  8. Tour Horse

    • Toby Malone, Chris Jackman
    Pages 79-96
  9. Back Matter

    Pages 97-113

About this book

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. 

Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada

    Toby Malone

  • Centennial College, Toronto, Canada

    Chris Jackman

About the authors

Toby Malone is a graduate of the University of Toronto’s Graduate Centre for Drama, Theatre, and Performance Studies, and is currently a faculty member at the University of Waterloo, Canada. Previous publications include Shakespeare Survey, Literature/Film Quarterly, Canadian Theatre Review, Borrowers and Lenders and The Routledge Companion to Dramaturgy.

Christopher J. Jackman is a graduate of the University of Toronto’s Graduate Centre for Drama, Theatre, and Performance Studies, and is an alumnus of Massey College, Canada. He is currently Chair of Arts and Design at Centennial College in Toronto, has developed Centennial’s performing arts certificate programme, and remains an active director and performer. 

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Adapting War Horse

  • Book Subtitle: Cognition, the Spectator, and a Sense of Play

  • Authors: Toby Malone, Chris Jackman

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59475-4

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan London

  • eBook Packages: Literature, Cultural and Media Studies, Literature, Cultural and Media Studies (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2016

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-137-59474-7Published: 23 May 2016

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-1-349-95536-7Published: 27 May 2018

  • eBook ISBN: 978-1-137-59475-4Published: 09 May 2016

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIII, 113

  • Number of Illustrations: 3 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: Performing Arts, Children's Literature, British Cinema and TV

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access