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Now and then the theatre throws up a piece of work so exhilarating that it makes you rejoice to be alive. War Horse, adapted by Nick Stafford from the novel by the former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo and directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, is just such an occasion.
With the South African puppet company Handspring, the creative team has translated Morpurgo’s limpid, emotionally dense prose into a sweeping drama of extraordinary power. Following in the National’s recent tradition of challenging Christmas shows, this tale of love, loss and the horrors of conflict is harrowing, joyous and thrilling. And its sheer skill and invention are simply awe-inspiring.
The story follows Joey, the beloved horse of the farmer’s son Albert Narracott (Luke Treadaway), as he is sold to the Army at the outbreak of the First World War and shipped to France with the cavalry. But this is much more than just an equine adventure. As Albert is torn from Joey’s side, the horse becomes emblematic of every life imperilled by war – and it is this that gives the piece its startling potency. Joey’s sufferings are appalling, and the production never shies away from making them explicit – an approach rendered especially shattering by the fact that the puppetry is nothing short of miraculous.
Our first glimpse of Joey is as a stiff-legged, skittish foal; when the fully grown horse gallops into view, it’s a stunning sight. A skeleton of steel, wicker and leather, with three puppeteers visible within, the creature is manipulated with wondrous precision and delicacy. Stafford’s adaptation may lack Joey’s inner narrative voice as featured in Morpurgo’s book, but a tossed head, a swishing tail, a whinny of terror or flailing hooves are an equally eloquent and thoroughly theatrical equivalent.
Rae Smith’s seamlessly evocative designs, exquisitely lit by Paule Constable, effectively employ animation and video alongside a simple dirt-covered revolve, and Adrian Sutton’s score, blending weeping Vaughan Williams-like strings and folk songs by John Tams, adds aching poignancy. As Joey journeys from English meadows to nightmarish battlefield scenes of rolling tanks, snarled barbed wire and broken, wheezing horses pecked at by carrion crows, his struggle for survival unfailingly grips and moves.
Crucially, the human characters are drawn with equal care, with generosity of spirit and battle-hardened desperation among both the British and the German ranks. And Albert’s family life back in Devon, before he too enlists and joins the fighting, searching amid the carnage for Joey, is no rural idyll but, for all its pastoral loveliness, bedevilled by poverty and his feckless, boozy dad’s debts.
But what makes the piece so elating is its expression of how, in the worst circumstances imaginable, love and compassion can endure. It’s heartbreakingly beautiful.
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This is an achingly beautiful production, unashamedly sentimental and perhaps a little drawn out at the end, but it works because the skillful staging ensures that we actually care, deeply about the fate of the characters, and especially the horses. A wonderful, emotional night out.
David, London,
Saw War Horse the other night and my partner and I both thought it was an outstanding piece of theatre. The plot, lighting and acting were all utterly immersing and flawlessly executed.
At the end I clapped so hard I somehow managed to bruise my hand! Yes, It really was 'that' good.
Laura, London, UK
War Horse was so bad I fell asleep, it's ridiculous how people can think that someone (or three) holding a horrendous excuse for a puppet is 'stunning'. The plot was so awful it was unbelievable, this performance has scarred me to the extent that I no longer wish to see another play.
Jack, Newcastle, England
This was breathtaking and passionate theatre. The whole production of horses/drawings and humanity combined to make a stunning exoerience which made my heart ache and my eyes weep. The horses took on the nobility and power of flesh and hoof. The production is an orchestration of pure creative force
Lyn Melville-James, London, UK
war horse was really good!
cr, london, england
I saw this last night and still haven't quite recovered! This is a truly unique production and to call these astounding creations "puppets" just isn't enough to capture what is achieved on stage. I have owned horses for over 20 years and every movement, every flicker of the ear, every swish of the tail was perfectly executed. Of course bringing these animals to life with such success means everything you witness is harrowing and heart breaking. I found myself riveted as the play unfolded yet wishing I could look away as the cavalry charged to their uncertain fate, tanks rolled in and forgotten chargers were left to face death by exhaustion, starvation or caught up in the barbed wire of the trenches. I can't imagine seeing anything for a very long time to come that quite matches this. I can only hope it continues either in the West End or touring as it deserves to reach as wide an audience as possible. One of the most thought provoking and emotional pieces of theatre I have ever seen.
Rhian, Barry, Wales
Given the usual clouds of cynicism and world weariness with which critics obscure the real worth of many plays, films etc, it was good to see them pitch in with some genuine passion for War Horse: - a stunningly wrought piece of theatre for all ages - horses will never again be animated in such a mesmerising way: I found myself empathising with a wooden frame. The whole play is beautifully performed, but there's little in theatre at the moment to match the first appearance of the fully grown animal.
joanna Murphy, petersfield,
Given the usual clouds of cynicism and world weariness with which critics obscure the real worth of many plays, films etc, it was good to see them pitch in with some genuine passion for War Horse: - a stunningly wrought piece of theatre for all ages - horses will never again be animated in such a mesmerising way: I found myself empathising with a wooden frame. The whole play is beautifully performed, but there's little in theatre at the moment to match the first appearance of the fully grown animal.
joanna Murphy, petersfield, england
Brilliant, amazing theatre. The original book written for children is recreated for both children & adults in a masterpiece of drama. The puppets (if you can call them that - there should be another word) were spectacular - the handlers completeley unobtrusive. Tim Van Eyken was wonderful singing songs which added even more poignancy to the production.
Not to be missed.
Hilary Dunne, Eastleigh, Hampshire
Best thing I've seen at the theatre for some time. When the fully grown horse makes its appearance it was one of the most dramatic moments of theatre I've seen. Technically excellent with great performances. Very involving throughout. Lots of noses being blown by the end. Great evening out.
Brian Smith, London,
I love horses we are getting qurter horse.. War horse are a beauful creater..
Maddie , Summerdale, AL