A WEST End actress who caught the hunger for her trade as a Wiveliscombe schoolgirl has signed up for another year on the cast of theatre hit War Horse.

Emma Thornett, 36, who went to Wiveliscombe Primary School, the town’s Kingsmead School and Richard Huish College in Taunton, is continuing at the New London Theatre in Drury Lane with her responsibilities of ‘mastering’ Joey as a foal.

She also performs as French civilian Paulette and acts as understudy for Rose, Albert’s mother.

Since 2007, the War Horse stage show has spun Michael Morpurgo’s children’s novel into theatre gold, telling the story of Joey, young Albert’s beloved horse.

Sold to the cavalry at the outbreak of the Great War, Joey serves on both sides of the conflict before finding himself in no man’s land. Albert, not old enough to enlist, conspires to bring him home.

Full-scale horse puppets give the play its edge; beautifully hewn from steel, leather and aircraft cables by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company.

Bringing the horses ‘to life’ is “amazing”, says Emma. “You believe they’re real; they’re so lifelike.

You get drawn into their world.”

The actress is taking part in her first National Theatre ‘Live’ broadcast performance on Thursday, February 27, to thousands of viewers.

Emma said: “We’ll do the show as normal, but the theatre will be adapted to accommodate the cameras and digital team who will edit it live and beam it straight out to 700 cinemas across the world. When you say it like that it’s really scary!”

Tickets to see the War Horse screening at 7pm at Odeon Taunton cost £18 for adults, £16 for students and £15.50 to under-17s.

Book on www.odeon.co.uk or call 08712-244007.