It takes three actors to manipulate the life-size horse in the play War Horse. [Photo by Jiang Dong / China Daily]

"There is a certain rhythm, a certain point where a part of the horse has to pick up a step, otherwise it doesn't look right. So we slowly find every tiny movement, such as when a horse is frightened or worried."

Language barriers have been another challenge. Alex Sims, the director, says the script presents certain linguistic problems.

"The shape of the story is the same, but we have to work on the translation, the script and the songs, to make it resonate with Chinese audiences. We are lucky to have wonderful translators who retain the show's funny and touching points in a way that Chinese people can understand.

"The great thing about the horse is that it is unpredictable and spontaneous, so each performance will be entirely different. We have the idea of the shape of the show but don't simply come here to make a copy. We work with fresh actors and create a new show with them.

"Chinese actors bring their own ideas, so it will be entirely original and unique because of the personalities."

The horse puppet is unique and the emotional experience of the play is unique, Sims says, and he wants Chinese audiences to be able to connect with the play emotionally.

Zhou Yuyuan, president of the National Theater of China, says: "With War Horse we are not simply co-producing a play. The National Theater of Britain has taught us a great deal about staging techniques, theater management and actor training."

The play will be staged in Shanghai from Nov 15 to Jan 17 and in Guangzhou from March 8 to May 3.