Albert reluctantly gives Joey to a senior officer and is soon lost in battle when the officer falls to the enemy. Joey is found and cared for by a defecting German officer who is recaptured by his troups, and once again Joey ends up on the front lines, only this time he serves the opposition.
Young Albert gets wind of the officer's demise and sets out on a journey to find Joey among all the chaos of war. Both Albert and Joey embark on the journey of their lives and discover courage, loyalty, and the depths of a remarkable friendship.
The story is both heart-breaking and heart-warming at the same time, peppered with just the right amount of humour. It is a huge play for a single stage, and where it lacks in stage design it more than makes up in originality and puppet mastery.
Joey and Topthorn are the two complete, full-sized horse puppets and there is Joey as a foal, and two other horses. It takes three adults to manipulate a complete, full-sized horse and the mastery is breath-taking.
War Horse is at the Queen Elizabeth theatre for one week only, then moves on to finish its cross Canada tour. It's a must see for the entire family and can only be fully appreciated in person. Here is a small glympse of what you can expect.