Photo Flash: WAR HORSE's Joey Visits Wembley for UEFA Champions League Final

Joey, the life-size puppet horse from The National Theatre's internationally acclaimed production of War Horse yesterday, Saturday 25 May 2013, made a special appearance at Wembley at the opening ceremony of the UEFA Champions League Final. Scroll down for photos!

Joey marched to the centre of the pitch in the company of The Band of the Lifeguards and was present when the iconic trophy was brought out onto the pitch, prior to Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern Munich teams entering the stadium.

War Horse, adapted from Michael Morpurgo's best-selling novel, is the powerful story of a young boy called Albert and his beloved horse, Joey and features ground-breaking puppetry work by South Africa's Handspring Puppet Company, which brings breathing and galloping horses to life on stage.

Significantly for this all German final, the first non-English speaking version of the play entitled Gerfährten will open at the Stage Theater des Westens in Berlin on 20 October 2013.

Michael Morpurgo said: 'It's grand, simply grand, that Joey was there at Wembley at the opening ceremony of the UEFA Champions League Final, along with his friends in the Band of the Life Guards. And it's particularly special that both teams at Wembley this year are from Germany, as Joey is going to Berlin in September, himself, when the show of War Horse opens there at the Stage Theater des Westens. I was watching, Joey behaved himself and did us all proud.'

War Horse, is now in its sixth year in London's West End and has been see by over 3 million people world-wide. The show won five Tony Awards during its run in New York, and can also be seen on tour in the US and Australia and is soon to begin a major tour of the UK and Ireland.

Joey was operated at Wembley by three puppeteers - Shaun McKee (Head), Matt Tait (Heart) and Sam Clark (Hind).

War Horse plays the New London Theatre, Drury Lane, London WC2B 5PW. Now booking to 15 February 2014. Performances: Monday, Wednesday and Fridays at 7.30pm; Tuesdays at 7pm; and Thursday & Saturdays at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Ticket prices: £15-£59 plus concessions. Box Office: National Theatre Box Office - No booking fee. Telephone 020 7452 3000. Online at www.warhorselondon.com or www.nationaltheatre.org.uk. New London Theatre Box Office -booking fee: Telephone 0844 412 4654; online from www.seetickets.com For more about the production, go to: warhorseonstage.com.

Photo Credit: Karl Westworth

War Horse's Joey at Wembley

War Horse's Joey at Wembley

War Horse's Joey at Wembley