The much-loved children’s book, Black Beauty has been adapted for the stage and will be touring Britain this summer.
Anna Sewell’s nineteenth century novel has been adapted by James Stone and produced by BBC playwright Susannah Daley and PEEL Heritage – which specialises in bespoke events at cultural venues across the UK – to create an open-air theatrical production.
The 27-date tour will take in prestigious country houses and estates in England and Scotland including Scone Castle, Althorp House and Castle Howard.
“Black Beauty is a timeless story, which continues to sell and be taught in schools throughout the world,” said Ms Daley.
“One of the biggest challenges in staging the production was how to bring the horses to life.
“Modern design, technology, choreography and theatrical production techniques have enabled us to bring the story to a contemporary audience without losing the core essence of the book,” she said.
Costume designer Hayley Neil’s specially created head costumes – made from simple structural shells – help the actors to truly inhabit their equine characters.
Black Beauty was written in 1877 and was the only published novel of Anna Sewell, who died five months after it was first printed.
It has now sold over 50 million copies worldwide.
The book was originally written to draw attention to the mistreatment of working horses in the nineteenth century but has now become a children’s favourite.
For more information and tickets visit www.blackbeautylive.co.uk
