Have heard so many good reports of War Horse, which is playing for a second time at the National Theatre, that expectations was high.
Based on a children's book by Michael Morpurgo it is the story of Albert and his horse Joey whom his father bought at auction, while drunk, using the money that was supposed to pay the mortgage. It is set in the years before and during the first world war and with a minimum of props and sets brought spectacularly to life.
But all that is nothing compared to the horses, here a picture of the supporting horse in the story, Topthorne. And yes they are puppets that are big enough for a full sized adult to ride around on! The puppeteers, for three people operate each horse, move them so naturally that I couldn't take my eyes off them for the first half an hour.
It is the same puppet company that made the daemons for the NT's production of His Dark Materials a few years back. Then the puppet masters were dressed in black as the manipulated each individual daemon around the stage but you soon forget they were there and it is the same for the horses in War Horse.
It is a simple story, having been based on a children's book, full of humour but also very moving and doesn't shy away from some of the horrors of war.
Such has been it's success that when it finishes it's run in rep at the NT it is transferring to the New London Theatre. I'm not sure how well it will transfer as the NT's Olivier has a huge revolve which is used to dramatic effect and the staging really makes the most of the fact that the audience curves around the stage. I did enjoy it so much though that I would be tempted to go and see it again. Perhaps I'll take my Mum.