Anyone seen it yet this year? What's changed, if anything? How's the new cast?

I saw the second preview on Thursday. There has been some changes, mostly minor ones that only people who knew the original production would notice. There are also some pretty big changes, but I don't want to go into too much detail because I don't want to spoil it for anyone who goes to see it soon.

The new cast are mostly good. The guy playing Albert is fantastic. The others need some more time to settle in I think, but when they do, they will be extremely strong.

Yeah there are some pretty big changes that most would notice. I saw it on sunday and it was great, Kit Harington is great as Albert different to Luke Treadaway but still great. There is one change which I will quickly say, Ned Narracott who was Albert's rival and Ned's father wanted to buy Joey in the end well Ned is now called Billy as they changed the relantionships to make Albert and Billy cousins not Billy and his father Warrens, it would have sound strange if they had kept Billy's name Ned...Ned Narracott. The other changes are easier to spot.

I saw it this weekend and noticed more Narracotts than at the last count but couldn't recall precisely what was different.

I'm happy to say I felt this way about all the changes, including those more conspicuous than this one: they aren't that big at all, they all work seamlessly and none affect the wonderful spirit of the show in the slightest - everything that was entrancing about War Horse last year is still thrillingly here.

I thought all the new actors were equal to the first cast; they all completely held their own, offering different shades of tenderness where it's needed. I was pretty awed by Kit Harrington who manages to make Albert all his own without actually being too different from Luke Treadaway. You somehow manage to get all that was earnest, winning and moving about LT's performance but with something else too. It's a huge accomplishment. The new horse playing Joey is crap though; it kept defeca...okay, joke. The horses are, of course, as amazing as last year.

What a stunning show it remains. Even when you know what's coming, its constant wonders give the tiny hairs on the back of your neck a massive workout. I can't wait to see it again.

I don't think it's giving too much away to say that this time round Emilie is no longer a puppet. I thought the spruced-up projections worked well, despite losing the visible miniatures, but I do wish they'd drop the embarrassing warship sequence. The hurried final homecoming was a big disappointment to me; they made so much more of that last year. Nevertheless, it remains a fabulous evening of theatre.

I wish I had greater control over bodily fluids during these emotional epics. Big problem with leaky eyes.

Job

I wouldn't worry about it, Job. I start to cry every time I tell someone just how great the show is. It's either really powerful or really manipulative!

i cried buckets last year. i loved every minute

two of my mates are there now, i quite nervous as i want them to have a similar experience that i did and will cherish

Apparently the BBC and Andrew Lloyd Webber are in talks with the NT about "YourHorse". The public get the chance to choose, over 27 thrilling weeks, the new JOEY for the National's smash hit production of WarHorse. It's YOUR chance to say Yay! or Neigh!

An NT spokesman refused to confirm that Connie Fisher is the 'front runner' for this exciting new role. Jodie Pringer could well be a dark horse in this race.

etc..

"I wish I had greater control over bodily fluids during these emotional epics. Big problem with leaky eyes."

Thank god for the second sentence.

I didn't see the original production, so I can't compare, but was so pleased to have finally got to see it. I adored the book but hadn't read it for many years so didn't notice any major deviations from the narrative.

I'm not a fan of Patrick O'Kane (Friedrich) - it was his Macbeth at Stratford that prompted my one and only early departure from the theatre so I was less than overjoyed when I saw him and realised who he was. He was better than as Macbeth but still not, in my opinion, good. I can't really place what it is about him that irritates me, other than to say that he does, intensely. Real shame, because I'd otherwise struggle to find fault with the production.

I thought Patrick O'Kane was pretty awful in this role, a real shame as Angus Wright was extremely moving and dignified in the same part last year.

But apart from that I thought it was just as wonderful as last year, although I did prefer Puppet Emilie. Much more childlike! The 'transformation' near the beginning is, I think, my favourite ever moment in a theatre.

Can't wait to see War Horse again, saw it last Tuesday, it was great! Seeing it on 6th Jan!