Moving, mesmerising and utterly magnificent, this is one hell of a production. 

The latest version of War Horse returns to the Mayflower Theatre stage even more visually stunning than its predecessor. 

The National Theatre's ground-breaking play, which has won an Olivier Award, plaudits and fans everywhere, is so intense and so incredible that I barely drew breath for its 2 hours 40 minutes.

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The puppetry which sees three incredibly talented actors and a frame recreate a 15 hand thoroughbred-draft horse mix, right down to its snorting, whinnying and pawing, was already completely perfect in every way.

To the naked eye, little has changed on that front since I met Joey ahead of his Southampton debut 11 years ago. 

But it's in the digital design where advancements have heightened the emotion in even this most epic of shows. The intricate sketches and projected animations transport us from a sleepy Devon village filled with farms to the horrors of the battlefield. 

(Image: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg) The drawings are almost entirely in black and white, with the exception of the most memorable visual which saw drops of blood seep into the picture, moving and spreading until they eventually formed a beautiful field of poppies. 

War Horse is the extraordinary story  of Joey, the horse who fights on both sides as World War I rages in France, before eventually being reunited with his beloved master Albert and returning to his home in the English countryside, as well as the people and animals he meets along the way. 

Having just reread the novel with my ten-year-old daughter, who loved the show every bit as much as I did, I can confirm it sticks closely to Michael Morpurgo's story, while allowing the development of certain characters, most notably the German officer turned hospital orderly Friedrich.

(Image: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg) I would challenge anyone not to cry. Last night's audience were certainly deeply moved by the play, three tiers of people producing a lengthy standing ovation at the curtain call.

An unforgettable experience I'll never forget, this is one of the greatest pieces of theatre ever produced. 

War Horse runs until Saturday October 19. Tickets from mayflower.org.uk or 023 8071 1811.

(Image: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg)