Apart from being a landmark theatre event, the local tour of "War Horse" may pull the right strings to unharness the country’s emerging puppet power.

Bits of moulded cane and metal on the factory floor are destined to be stars: majestic horses that flick their tails, and gallop with life-like ease.

Cape Town’s Handspring Puppet Company, which created the life-size horse puppets for <em>War Horse</em>, was named a Tony Award winner on Tuesday.