WAR HORSE – a play by Michael Morpurgo
At the outbreak of the First World War, young Albert’s beloved horse Joey is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France. Too young to enlist, Albert refuses to forget him, embarking on an extraordinary journey from the fields of rural Devon to the trenches of wartime France – determined to bring Joey home.
Based on Michael Morpurgo’s beloved novel, War Horse is a timeless story of love, courage and friendship, brought to life by astonishing life-sized horses from Handspring Puppet Company and a stirring musical score.
Following a sell-out national tour, the Tony Award–winning global sensation returns to where it all began, nearly two decades after its debut at the National Theatre.
War Horse gallops back to National Theatre – 2026 Review ★★★★
Upcoming Accessible Performances of War Horse
Captioned Performances:
Thursday 11 June – 7.30pm
Thursday 2 July – 7.30pm
Tuesday 14 July – 7.30pm
Tuesday 28 July – 7.30pm
BSL Interpreted:
Tuesday 23 June – 7.30pm
Wednesday 22 July – 7.30pm
Audio Described (with touch tours taking place 90 minutes before the show):
Saturday 20 June – 2.15pm
Friday 24 July – 7.30pm
Relaxed performance:
Tuesday 7 July – 6.30pm
My original 2013 review of War Horse
War Horse is based on the wonderful 1982 book my Michael Morpurgo which tells the story of a boy (Albert), his horse (Joey) and then bond they share together. The book is told from the horses perspective and the play from a more general view, giving a nice contrast and building up a fuller picture to the story.
When Joey the horse is sold to the army, Albert runs away from home to find his beloved friend. War Horse is a lovely story but quite draining because of the death and war that make up the crux of the show.
The life size animals in the play are operated by puppeteers but after a few minutes you forget they are there and you believe there are real life horses on stage (and a very adorable duck).
As the show is about a boy going off to war in Germany, it is expected that there be a spattering of languages in the piece. French and German and largely used to emphasise the characters are at war but at times the dialogue goes on for so long that the audience start to get a little restless that they can’t understand the conversation happening. Perhaps the choice to have this in the play is to demonstrate art is art and can be understood in any language (like Opera) but I did feel at times it went on a little long.
War Horse is unlike any other show in the west end. A real spectacle and something that everyone should see. I suggest you all trot off to buy tickets right away!
★★★★
Reviewed by West End Wilma, 2013
REVIEW: WAR HORSE (Curve) 2019 ★★★★★
REVIEW: WAR HORSE (New Victoria Theatre) 2018 ★★★★★
