War Horse – the title alone brings imagery to mind, of trenches and mud, battle and loss, and this amazing production did not disappoint.
From the moment a lone singer walks onto the stage to lead a haunting acapella, you can feel the attention of every single person catch as we meet Joey, the titular character, as a foal. For a moment you see the people, dressed head to toe in the same brown as the horse, but within moments the lifelike movements of the foal pull focus away from its puppeteers.
The show journeys with Joey and his boy Albert, from learning to trust each other, and their highs and lows both together and separately. Difficult to describe without spoilers, the mercurial WWI adventure is captivating and emotional throughout. In a sold-out auditorium, you could hear a pin drop, and almost believe you were watching the show alone.
The cast is, of course, superb, with Ben Murray as the lone songperson giving the whole show a haunting quality fitting to the battle scenes and emotional moments alike, and Scott Miller portraying Albert’s emotional attachment to Joey being almost tangible. However, the true stars of the show are without a doubt the horses, and their puppeteers who somehow make you suspend disbelief. The movements, sounds and characters of each animal shine through, and it feels very wrong to call them puppets.
Special mention must go to Jonathan Cobb, whose puppetry of the goose brought some lovely comedic moments.
Usage of props is minimal throughout the whole show, with the main scene changes being projected across a torn white sliver above the stage predominantly in black & white, which makes the blood red poppies all the more poignant when they come.
A clever, insightful, and respectful tribute to the casualties of WWI both human and equine, War Horse is definitely not one to miss.
[box type=”info” align=”alignleft” class=”” width=””]You can see War Horse at The Regent Theatre until Saturday 6th April 2019! Tickets for the evening and matinee performances can be purchased at the Box Office, by calling 08448 717 649 or by visiting https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/war-horse/regent-theatre/
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