War Horse

By Allegra Webb

“Only the truth that in life we have spoken,
Only the seed that in life we have sown.
 These shall pass onwards when we are forgotten,
Only remembered for what we have done.”

On the 14^th January 2016, I had the anticipating opportunity to join the Drama Department in the Six Form to see ‘War Horse’ in the New London Theatre. The production, based on Michael Morpurgo’s novel, followed the heart-warming bond, friendship and amity between the lively Albert Narracott and his high-spirited horse Joey, as they face the despairing challenges of a World War that threatened to tear their companionship apart. Happiness swarmed. Suspense grew. Tears were shed. This performance sent me on a spiral of emotion- crashing me with waves of sheer joy that shivered through my veins to the melancholy blues that swept through the audience. War Horse captured the raw experiences and emotion that spread across our globe during World War I- whether it was the soldiers who fought bravely for their country, or the anxious, distressed family members who waited for their loved ones to return home; this performance gave us a realistic insight to the true horror of the years 1914-1918 from a variety of perspectives.

Firstly, I would like to heavily praise the production’s ability to uniquely present the animals that appeared throughout the performance, without relying on any living creatures- something that can be a formidable task to complete in theatre. War Horse effortlessly succeeded in bringing the ‘animals’ to life on stage, with their immense detail and focus on the animal’s movement; whether it would be twitching, breathing or sniffing, the actors were able to remarkably match the mannerisms and realism of a living, breathing horse. Another example of this, which also brought a comedic flair to the saddening tones of the play, was the goose, a role that would presumably appear to be small compared to the colossal horses, but drew in attention through its realistic squawking, flapping and running.  The actors who controlled, the legs, head and heart seemed to disappear from view- unable to tarnish the magical illusion that the show presented to the audience.

A particular scene that stood out for me, would definitely have to be the procession of soldiers collecting horses from the townspeople- a key moment in Joey and Albert’s journey which would separate them from their close bond. Despite, the joyous, exuberant atmosphere of this scene, I couldn’t help but feel true despair; knowing that this would be the last moment shared between the duo for a very long time. Furthermore, the use of staging was no barrier for the audience to immerse themselves in the setting- with colourful flags hanging high above the audience and the scenery spinning leisurely, allowed a clear perception to this happy occasion- concealing the dark, tragic fates that could befall on both the soldiers and horses who would participate in the battles.

Additionally, I felt the strong sensations of the suspenseful, scary scenes of the battles that both Albert and Joey experienced- despite being apart, both protagonists are forced to endure the terror of bombs, gunshots and No Man’s Land, in the hope that they would soon reunite.
The actions out on the battlefield would determine the fates of the families at home- a concept shown with the fallen soldiers scattered messily across the stage as Albert’s parents conversed; unaware of the catastrophic events in the safety of their home.  It was these moments, with Joey ploughing through the treacherous battle grounds, or the comforting conversations between Albert and the other soldiers that pulled at my heartstrings, that provides a constant reminder of how abysmal the World War truly was.

Nevertheless, the performance raised awareness of the controversial themes of war- the idea that these soldiers who fight for their opposing countries, still share a sense of humanity that rises above the blockades of battle. A significant scene that featured Joey ensnared in wires on No Man’s Land, with only the German and English troops there to rescue him, told us the veiled aspects of war; these conflicts were not against the troops of England and Germany but the leaders of the countries that were clashing- even though it was the soldiers who were sacrificing themselves for their country, not their superiors. Both armies worked together to free the panicked, injured Joey from a fatal end- highlighting the concept that regardless of their differences, they all shared a sense of righteousness, morality and justice, despite the events of war that lingered over the globe. 

To start and conclude the production, the performance featured the heartening song: ‘Only Remembered’ by John Tams, which I feel summarises the true meanings of the play: countless lives were lost during the gloomy four years of World War I, and unfortunately, we are only left with the memories of what they have accomplished, but not the lifestyles they were forced to leave behind. Nevertheless, despite this saddening ideology; War Horse reminded us the importance of friendship and staying strong during these devastating events in our history; for no matter what troubles attempted to destroy the lives of people and animals, like Albert and Joey, their strong bond remained resilient through the darkest of moments- knowing they would soon obtain their positive future together.