The international sensation “War Horse” returns to Glasgow, playing the Theatre Royal until Saturday 5th April 2025. The story follows Joey, young Albert’s beloved horse, who is sold to the Cavalry and shipped to France. He’s soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary journey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man’s land. Albert, who remained on his parents’ Devon farm, cannot forget Joey. Though still not old enough to enlist he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home. Michael Morpurgo’s beautiful novel has become one of the most prominent page to stage adaptations of the 21st century.
The cast of this production bring the narrative to life with intricate puppetry work, breathtaking movement sequences and gut-wrenching performances which tell a tale of war, family and connections.
The first mention has to go to Tom Sturgess as Albert Narracott, who delivers an incredible performance, radiating the innocence of youth as we first meet him, and then taking the audience on a journey which transforms him into a man. The constant energy and profound emotion Sturgess carries whilst tackling this complex track is staggering – it’s a fantastic portrayal.
The most physical and mesmerizing element of this production is the puppetry, tackled by a team of sensational performers that transform material and wiring into living beings. Those who have seen “War Horse” will tell you after a few moments you forget that there are humans operating these puppets – this is very true. Four teams rotate between the different animals depicted by puppetry, these include Joey as a Foal (operated by Eloise Beaumont-Wood, Jordan Paris and Diany Samba-Bandza) Joey, Topthorn and of course, The Goose (operated on rotation by Rianna Ash, Alexandra Donnachie, Matthew Lawrence, Tea Poldervaart, Tom Quinn, Robin Hayward, Lewis McBean, Chis Milford, Rafe Young, Felicity Donnelly, Thomas Goodridge, Michael Larcombe and Gun Suen). These teams work in tandem to create nuanced and breathtaking performances.
This production is complimented with stirring songs by John Tams, in this tour Scottish performer Sally Swanson plays The Singer, her stunning Scottish voice tackling the traditional Devon inspired music is hauntingly beautiful. Sally’s presence raises the emotion and sets the atmosphere for each scene she features.
Karl Haynes as Ted Narracott and Jo Castleton as Rose Narracott, Albert’s mother and father, create a complex family, showing division, stubbornness, yet throughout it all – love. These are great supporting portrayals.
The rest of this company tackle a multitude of characters and bring to life sleepy Devon or the brutality of war in Northern France through their brilliant portrayals. The company are as follows; Alexander Ballinger (Captain Friedrich Müller/Allan), Ike Bennett (David Taylor/Thomas Bone), Haydn Burke (Billy Narracott/Sergeant Klebb), Sophie Cartman (Matron Callaghan), Owen Dagnall (Geordie), Tom Gilbey (Sergeant Fine), Madeleine Leslay (Paulette/Sarah Carter), Jack Lord (Private Klausen/Priest), Damian Lynch (Chapman Carter/Colonel Strauss), Anne-Marie Piazza (Nell Allan/Private Schnabel), Gareth Radcliffe (Arthur Narracott/Sergent Thunder), Daniel Rock (Captain Stewart/Ludwig), Diany Samba-Bandza (Emilie), Alistair So (Veterinary Officer Martin), Simon Stanhope (Manfred), Lucy Thorburn (Jenny Bone/Nurse Annie Gilbert) and Chris Williams (Lieutenant Nicholls/Doctor Schweyk).
This new touring production of “War Horse” is directed by Tom Morris and Revival Director Katie Henry – the two creatives do a stellar job of reinvigorating the hit play for 2025 audiences. This production turns up the dials to bring the wonder, beauty and emotion which burst onto stages nearly twenty years ago (original production was directed by Morris and Marianne Elliot). Morris and Henry utilise Nick Stafford’s profoundly powerful script – that captures Morpurgo’s characters and narrative beautifully. Bringing the animal characters to stage is Adrian Kohler’s puppet design and fabrication for Handspring Puppet Company, which is simply staggering – Joey and Topthorn are now instantly recognisable characters within British theatre. Assisting bringing the animals and complex settings to life is Matthew Forbes’ puppetry direction with Toby Sedgwick’s movement direction and horse choreography.
The puppets aren’t the only visually stunning aspect of this production with Rob Casey’s minimalistic yet bewitching lighting design, and Rae Smith’s marvellous drawings and design. Aesthetically there is no production like it.
“War Horse” is a staple of 21st-century theatre, and this reinvigorated touring production embodies the spirit of the original production, featuring a staggering cast, with an ingenious creative team that pushes the profoundness of this beautiful tale for new and re-visiting audiences. As someone who has seen this production twice before, it was impossible not to shed a tear in the final moments of this incredible production.
Get tickets here – https://www.warhorseonstage.com/#aka-block-tour-dates-block_831a31758115f459a29880787325810d
Playing Theatre Royal Glasgow until Saturday 5th April 2025 & Edinburgh Festival Theatre 2nd– 11th October 2025.
Theatre Scotland 
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