SOMETHING a little bit magical happens when Joey the War Horse is on stage.

“Audiences are so captured by the movement, the way he behaves, that they really do believe he is real,” smiles Matt Forbes, resident puppetry director for the hit stage show which comes to Glasgow in January.

“It’s amazing to watch.”

War Horse, which has now played to more than seven million people in 11 countries around the world, is based on the beloved book by Michael Morpurgo.

Set at the outbreak of World War One, it is the story of Joey, young Albert’s much loved horse who is sold to the Cavalry and shipped to France, soon to be caught up in enemy fire.

Fate takes him on an extraordinary journey, serving on both sides, before finding himself alone in no man’s land. Albert, who remained on his parents’ Devon farm, cannot forget Joey. Though still not old enough to enlist he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home.

The theatre show is powerfully moving and imaginative, filled with stirring music and songs. At its heart are astonishing life-sized horses by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, who bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to thrilling life on stage.

Matt’s current role means he oversees all of the puppets and puppeteers – around 24 in total – who bring Joey and friends to life.

He knows exactly how they are feeling, as he was one of the performers in the National Theatre production for three years.

“I saw War Horse at the National, must have been 10 years ago now, and immediately afterwards emailed my agent and said – I want to be in that show,” he laughs. “I remember saying, I don’t care what part it is, third spear carrier from the left, whatever – I just want to be in it.”

Joey the horse requires three actors – one for the head, one for the heart and one for the hind. Matt worked the horse’s head in more than 1000 performances.

“It’s a different kind of role for an actor,” he nods. “You can’t have an ego – because it’s really not about you.

“But like any acting role, you have to work out what the character – in this case, the horse – needs, how would he respond to situations, what is he thinking?”

He says: “It takes three people to work Joey, and that can be hard – that’s three actors with their own ideas and opinions on the character and how it should respond. But what’s really interesting is how it comes together. Obviously, the actors can’t speak to each other on stage, so they can’t say ‘left a bit, right a bit’ and so on… They communicate through different breath signals – this means walk forward, that means trot. It becomes instinctive – I have been there and done it, and when you are inside the structure, it almost feels like the horse is making the decisions.

“Often, the three of us would come off the stage and congratulate each other on how one of us had made a particular movement happen, and realise that in fact, none of us had. It’s magical.”

Matt adds: “And one of the reasons the show is so successful, I think, is because it does all happen in front of your eyes. There is no CGI, no fancy special effects – it’s all down to the skill of the puppeteer. It’s proper stage magic.”

Matt’s next project is a stage version of the Robert Louis Stevenson classic Treasure Island, written by TV presenter Sandi Toksvig.

“I met Sandi at a garden party and we got chatting about this dream I had to do a theatre version of Treasure Island, and she said – I’ll write it for you,” laughs Matt. “It was brilliant.

“I’ve always loved the theatre – when I was young, it was always me, front and centre at the school plays, singing along.

“I don’t know where it came from – my mum worked in a bank, my dad was a car salesman, so it wasn’t like we were a theatrical family. One of my first professional jobs after graduating from Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, was with Dundee Rep, and I’m really proud of my association with them.”

He adds: “I feel very fortunate to have been in War Horse, and then to be asked to be part of the creative team.

“It’s taken me all over the world and I will always be thankful to have had that experience.”

The show has captured the imagination of audiences wherever it has played and most recently, says Matt, with particular resonance.

“We are a nation of animal lovers, but I think there’s a massive connection to the story because we recently commemorated the centenary of the end of World War One,” he agrees.

“Michael Morpurgo calls it an anthem for peace – even though it’s called War Horse, the backdrop to Joey’s tale is about friendship, loyalty and advocating peace.

“In the difficult times the world is facing at the moment, it’s an important story to tell.”

War Horse is at the SEC from January 15 to February 2.