Review: War Horse, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff

Based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, War Horse is an imaginative drama, filled with stirring music and songs, tells the story of Albert and Joey, a young boy and his horse which takes audiences on an extraordinary journey from the fields of rural Devon to the trenches of First World War France. 

War Horse begins on British farmland at the eve of the First World War where a young farm boy, Albert, has to break in his beloved hunter as a plow horse at the pains of a bet set by his father. Albert’s devotion to the horse, which he names Joey sets the pair off on the ultimate journey of adventure.

When Joey’s father sells the horse to the British Cavalry to participate in front line battles against the Kaiser, the action begins to shift effortlessly from rural farmland to the battlefields of World War One depicting every emotion from beauty, despair, glory and destruction.  

At the heart of the production are mesmerizing life-sized horses operated by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company. Every snort, breath, gallop and charge is replicated to perfection bringing the horses to life on stage. 

Thomas Dennis, plays Albert who develops an extraordinary relationship with the foal, Joey as he grows into an adult horse.  


Bob Fox as The Song Man in War Horse Photos by Brinkhoff & Mo êgenburg Bob Fox as The Song Man in War Horse Photos by Brinkhoff & Mo êgenburg 

Bob Fox as The Song Man in War Horse Photos by Brinkhoff & Mo êgenburg 

Bob Fox was ever present as the Song Man who would just wander onto stage or pop up in unexpected places to narrate the story through song and verse. 

The supporting cast were excellent with several of them changing roles as the story changes Location from Devon to France 

  • War Horse remains a magnificent moving stage experience and continues its run at wales Millennium Centre until July 28. 
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