NT On Tour: War Horse (26/01/19)

As a theatre lover, I have been looking for an opportunity to see the stage adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's War Horse, and this weekend I finally got the chance to see it. The play follows the journey of Joey, a horse in the First World War and the struggles his owner, Albert, goes through to be reunited with his beloved friend. Within just 10 years, the award winning production has been around the world and broken West End records, and I am thrilled to say that it lives up to its credentials.

Photo taken from National Theatre website:
https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/war-horse-on-tour#production-story

Beginning the performance, the audience is introduced to a foal, effortlessly carried around the stage by puppeteers. The foal gambolled about the stage, mimicking the actions of a real creature from its ears right down to its tail. Despite the puppeteers being entirely visible, the illusion was compellingly realistic as they manoeuvred the young Joey with skill and finesse. This illusion continued throughout the production with all puppets, and very soon I forgot almost entirely that there were any puppeteers on the stage at all - even when several bodies were needed to move the animals into more complex positions (such as in the image above).

The most surprising element for me was the distinctive lack of set. Scenery was kept extremely simple and minimalist, with only a door and a window to represent a house, for example. Somehow, this added to the production, as it allowed the actors and puppets to dominate the entire stage, making use of its depth and of every corner. Across the top of the performance space was a simple strip on which images were projected. It sounds simple, but it was an easy way of changing the scenery without an intrusive backdrop and without drawing attention away from the action, complementing the minimalist set while providing enough information to transport the audience from one scene to another.

Albert (Scott Miller) with Joey as a foal. Photo taken from War Horse On Stage:
 http://www.warhorseonstage.com/about/gallery/

The inventiveness of the production goes beyond the puppetry and set. Sound effects, lighting and a smoke machine created an eerie battlefield as the beloved Joey went to war, placing the audience on the front line with him. Not only is the emotion of the animal visible in his actions, but it is felt through the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) changes in atmosphere through music, song and sounds.

Now for the emotional part. Throughout the performance, the bond between the audience and Joey has been growing stronger, as more and more you hope that Joey will survive the war and be reunited with his precious Albert. By the time you reach the emotional climax of the play, you will be so enchanted by their bond and so moved by the story that these final events will capture even the hardest of hearts. If you do not already know the story, be prepared to cry. If you do know the story, be prepared to cry.