Michael Morpurgo, the original author of ‘War Horse’, thought it a ‘mad’ project to adapt his book for the stage. How could they surmount the problem of the horse, the main character in this tale of war and loss?
I saw the play some years ago in London. Through incredible puppetry I soon found myself suspending my disbelief – this was a ‘real’ animal – somehow living and breathing – so precise were the movements of the puppeteers, so essentially equine.
The play remains an incredible testament to the power of theatre, where the limitations of the medium force performers, designers and directors to become more inventive.
No longer living near London’s theatre district, I miss such ambitious plays and the magic that can happen when the lights go down.
