Winchester Rianna Ash to perform in War Horse

Rianna Ash will appear in the 34-strong cast for the play’s upcoming international tour.

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Acting graduate Rianna, pictured, will be playing the role of the Head of Joey, a horse from Devon who was sold to the British cavalry during the First World War and shipped to France.

She said: “War Horse is such an ensemble piece of theatre and my training at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire has prepared me really well for this.

"We also had such a wide variety of classes, particularly in movement – from animal studies to body conditioning, to movement improvisation – which has helped me build a great foundation and fitness for this very physically demanding role.”

The National Theatre play, based on the award-winning novel by Michael Morpurgo, centres around Joey’s journey as he gets caught up in enemy fire, fights on both sides and eventually finds himself in no man’s land. It also follows Joey’s owner, Albert, who is on a mission to find his beloved horse and bring him home to England.

Alongside a record-breaking eight year London run, War Horse has been seen by more than seven million people in 97 cities and 10 countries around the world and it has won 25 awards.

Rianna added: “To make Joey come alive on stage it takes three puppeteers who create the breath, movement and sound of the horse. I am performing as the Head of Joey, and control the head and neck, as well as the main emotional indicators – the ears – so I really do have to think like a horse. Joining me in the team is the Heart and Hind puppeteers, who manipulate the horse’s breath, legs and tail.”

The tour will begin at the Glasgow SEC on January 15, 2019. The play will then visit various UK cities as well as New Zealand.