War Horse wins 5 Tony Awards
13th June 2011
The acclaimed stage adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's War Horse has scooped five Tony Awards at the theatre industry's annual prize ceremony in New York.
Based on Morpurgo's beloved 1982 novel about a young man who follows his horse to France after it is sold to the cavalry and sent to the trenches during World War I, the stage show has received critical acclaim on Broadway and in the West End.
At the ceremony, it won prizes for best play and best direction (Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris), as well as the awards for best scenery, lighting and sound.
After collecting the award, Morris joked that he 'quite likes it' when people cry - alluding to the fact that Steven Spielberg was moved to tears when he first saw the production.
The Hollywood director was such a fan of the play that he is now at work on a big screen version of War Horse starring Tom Hiddlestone and Benedict Cumberbatch, due for release later this year.
Other big winners at the Tony Awards included British actor Mark Rylance, who was named best actor for his role in Jez Butterworth's Jerusalem, and Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart, which won the prize for best revival.