When a National Theatre production goes on tour, audiences expect a high calibre performance. That expectation increases two-fold when a production has such a celebratory history like War Horse has.
Due to its longstanding repertoire, audiences know what to expect when they see this show; the puppets, the story, the wartime setting. However, one only feels the true essence of the performance when it is seen it live.
Descriptions won’t do the creative work justice, but one word to describe this production: magic. Considering the tour after tour it has been through, this cast held that sense of first-time performance quality that this show needs to succeed.
Like so many reviewers before me, I thought the puppetry was out of this world. Each performer, led expertly by Tom Sturgess as Albert Naracott, emanated such respect and selflessness while sharing the stage with the animals, made it more the special. There was no showboating, even on a stage as big as The Empire. It was clear this story’s main characters did not have speaking lines.
The adaptation by Nick Stafford delicately manages to keep the thrust of the narrative mature enough to inspire the imagination, like Michael Morpurgo’s children’s novel does so well. The sizeable cast also did well to convince us of the horrific experiences of The Great War, particularly Jack Lord as Private Klausen and Alexander Ballinger as Captain Friedrich Müller.
The themes explored so complexly in this story are super-imposed with the current changing geopolitical turmoil, which makes this production all the more important and all the scarier.
Another standout performance for me was Jo Castleton as Rose Naracott. Her presence and bolshy swagger was charming enough to cut deep when the character deeply longs her son later on. Plus, her depiction of rural Devonshire life over 100-years-ago with husband Karl Haynes as Ted, encompassed a perfect contrast to the pomp and cold shoulder of the British army, which dominates much of the second half.
From the set to the lighting, soundtrack and props, War Horse defined quality theatre making. I think the character that stole the whole show was the goose, expertly brought to life by Gun Suen. In just a handful of scenes the animal stole the hearts and minds of every audience member, young and old. Exactly what storytelling is about.
Reviewer: Hannah Esnouf
Reviewed: 8th April 2025
North West End UK Rating:
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