War Horse returns to Sunderland with mesmerising puppetry but something was missing

I headed to Sunderland Empire I was extremely excited to see the National Theatre's production of War Horse. And while I left feeling completely mesmerised by the production and puppets, I couldn't help but feel that something was missing.

I have been fortunate enough to see the National Theatre's production of Michael Morpurgo's award-winning book twice, once at The Lowery in Manchester around ten years ago, and then again at FACT Liverpool around five or six years later. So I knew what was coming and when, but also what to expect from a production of War Horse.

And with Remembrance Sunday only a few days away, it feels all the more poignant that War Horse is on in Sunderland.

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The story centres around a horse called Joey, bought for 39 guineas by Ted Narrcott (Karl Haynes), and his relationship with Ted's son Arthur (Tom Sturgess). Set during the First World War, Joey is sold to the British Army behind Arthur's back, with Arthur himself later enlisting in the British Army in the hope of reuniting with his beloved horse.

The following journey for both characters is both heartbreaking and uplifting, with Joey being used by both the British and German forces in the War.

The play is one of the best produced I have ever seen. Lighting Designer Rob Casey does a phenomenal job in using lighting to portray battle scenes, beautifully complemented by Adrian Sutton's score.

The art, portrayed above the actors on what looks to be a large piece of ripped paper, was exquisitely drawn and crafted by Rae Smith. I was particularly moved during a scene in the second half of the play, when the background was used to demonstrate blood had been spilled on the battlefield, but the drops of blood soon turned into hundreds of poppies, the transition was designed and drawn so seamlessly and magnificently, evoking real emotion.

The real star of the show though is Joey. Diana Samba-Bandza, Jordan Paris and Eloise Beaumont-Wood perfectly portray Joey as a young foal. Jittery, shy and imperfect, Joey soon learns to trust Arthur, and their relationship blossoms. Rianna Ash, Lewis McBean and Michael Larcombe, who portrayed Joey as an adult horse, did such a stunning job with Joey's mannerisms and sounds, that I forgot they were there.

And that is part of the magic of seeing War Horse, and the magic of the puppets and puppeteers. At times I had to remind myself that there was not actually a real horse on stage, but a team of exceptionally talented puppeteers controlling its every movement.

In terms of human performances, Alexander Ballinger's portrayal of Captain Friedrich Müller was the standout. A performance full of heart and emotion, Müller just wishes to be reunited with his daughter. The relationship he builds with young French girl Emilie (Diany Samba-Bandza) was heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure.

There were a few laughs at a character called Geordie's (Owen Dagnall) expense to break up a lot of the more hard-hitting scenes, which went down a treat with the Sunderland crowd. The Goose puppet (Gun Suen) also always elicited a laugh from the audience whenever it tried to sneak its way into the house after Rose Narracott (Jo Castleton).

But on the whole, I couldn't help but feel the whole production was missing something. The play took a while to really get going, and the first half could have been about 10-15 minutes shorter. Because it took a while to get going, it meant the ending felt rushed and almost incomplete, with the play almost coming to an abrupt end.

And some emotional scenes were not as impactful as I thought they would be. Granted there were some scenes that were emotional and pulled at heartstrings, but this production didn't quite pack the emotional punch compared to others I have seen in the past.

That is not to say the production is not amazing, because it is. The puppets, stage design, music and lighting are incredible, but this particular production did not impact me in the way that the others I have seen did. I therefore left the Sunderland Empire on Wednesday night feeling that something was missing to elevate this production from great, to unforgettable.

War Horse is on at the Sunderland Empire until November 16, and you can purchase tickets here.