A galloping success - 26/02/2010

Rob Yandell gives his opinion of War Horse, now playing at the New London Theatre.

The fact that War Horse is still performing in the West End tells you something. It initially opened at the National Theatre in 2007, returning for its autumn season of 2008. And although it was set to end its latest run in March of last year, the production’s continued popularity saw it transfer to the New London Theatre, near Covent Garden.

On a Tuesday night in January the theatre was packed when I had the pleasure of going to see a production that has been labelled ‘stunning’, ‘astonishing’ and ‘exhilarating’ by the critics; it may just keep on running, but my advice is take your group to see it now in case you miss out.

The National Theatre’s sell-out production of War Horse is based on the book by Michael Morpurgo and adapted for the stage by Nick Stafford. In fact, I hear that Hollywood has come calling in the form of Steven Spielberg, who has bought the film rights with a screenplay currently in progress.

The story is moving, compelling, heart-warming and funny; and with the Handspring Puppet Company adding its touch of magic you cannot help being swept away by it all.

We begin in the August of 1912 at an auction in Devon where farmer, Ted Narracott has a little too much to drink and pays a whopping 39 guineas for a foal. With the mortgage money out the window he has to face the wrath of wife, Rose - but his son Albert is over the moon about the arrival of Joey. Forming a special bond with the foal, Albert does everything he can to ensure Joey isn’t sold on for profit, but when World War One arrives he cannot stop Joey travelling to France as an officer’s horse, leaving his best friend and England behind.

Although too young to enlist in the army, Albert defies his family and runs away to the front line to find Joey and bring him home. What follows is a dramatic and moving tale that sees Joey serve on both sides before finding himself alone in no man’s land.