War Horse at the Festival Theatre Edinburgh*****

I have had a lifelong love of theatre. And for the last 15 years one performer has been at the top of my list of favourites…Joey, the star of War Horse!

Of course, he is only there because of the amazing award-winning Handspring Puppet Company and the incredible puppeteers who bring Michael Morpurgo’s character to life. But the way his eyes catch the light, his ears wicker, his tail swishes, and he snorts and whinneys, makes him as real to me as any human being on stage…which is why War Horse is so emotive. 

I’ve seen this production several times and I always end up having to try and contain my sobs as we follow him from his earliest days on a Devon farm to the First World War when he is sold to the Cavalry, shipped to France, and finds himself behind enemy lines.

It’s an epic production, with stirring music, songs and harrowing scenes; an overwhelming story of love and friendship, in which a 16-year-old boy signs up so he can go to war to find his horse.

According to the programme notes, one million horses were taken to France from Britain in World War 1 and only 62,000 were brought back. As a nation of animal lovers I know I won’t be alone in thinking of those noble creatures who had no say in where they went and with whom. And this production conveys so well not only the story of just one of those horses but the sacrifices ordinary citizens and those in the military made for our country.

This is a thrilling theatrical experience like no other, the best of British theatre, and one you should see at least once in your lifetime! Just make sure you have plenty of tissues!

Image: Brinkhoff Mogenburg

War Horse is at the Festival Theatre Edinburgh until Oct 11

capitaltheatres.com

The tour then continues:

Oct 15-25: Cardiff Millennium Centre

Oct 28-Nov 8: Norwich Theatre Royal