This critically acclaimed play has managed to break a record of highest grossing play in the history of the West End. During it’s time on Broadway it was extended due to popular demand.
Assitej South Africa, a non-profit organisation that is active in 90 countries worldwide, organised a private viewing for 1 700 pupils from various schools in Johannesburg on 29 October. The organisation has been running a period of 27 years aiming to bring to children to theatre. The core drive being to bring theatre predominantly to under privileged youth.
Assitej SA’s project manager for the War Horse Educational Experience in Gauteng, Alison Green says the intuitive is a “multi-pronged approach”, working with schools that already exist on their data base, while others were nominated and others coming about through door-to-door campaigning. Rand Merchant Bank, who rolled out an extensive social development programme to accompany the staging of the play, also worked with Assitej SA to sponsor buses for the pupils.
The story itself is a powerful account of Albert a young boy and his horse Joey. The inseparable pair develop a great bound. Joey the horse is then requisitioned into the British army to fight in World War I.
The genius of the production comes through in its puppetry. The team behind the puppets is Handspring, a Cape Town-based company which manufactures the puppets locally.
The puppets are manipulated by three puppeteers. They are made out of cane allowing for the horse to move with agility. They are also covered in transparent skin allowing the manipulators to see where they are going. Every little detail has been carefully thought out, including the choreography, the breathing right through to the motion of the hooves making contact with the ground.
Philani Mathonsi, a Grade 11 pupil from St Endas Secondary School in Hillbrow said “I really enjoyed the effects of the play most.” Hester Jurgens, a teacher at St Endas, says the play is “really great exposure for the kids, many who might have never had the privilege of seeing such a big production. Most of the kids haven’t even seen the Montecasino, so it really was a double whammy for them.”
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