They say acting is a hard profession, testing your emotions, ambition and ability to withstand rejection again and again. But while Haringey actor Jamie Lee-Morgan was lucky enough to land his first starring role – in acclaimed West End show War Horse – straight out of drama school, he had to undergo a full medical to make sure he was up to the job.

Because rather than standing in the spotlight as one of the human leads, he is part of a new team which brings Joey, the equine star of the World War One drama, to life – and it is quite a challenge.

“Each show has been compared to a half marathon,” says the 22-year-old, “because of the number of calories you burn.”

“It is mentally and physically draining but the challenge is what I love about it,” explains Jamie, who landed a part in the National Theatre production back in December but had to keep it a secret until he had been given the all-clear by Harley Street doctors and now has a physio on hand to make sure he isn’t damaging his body.

But while he has avoided injury Joey has not been so fortunate.

“Our first week we were trotting off stage and his leg snapped in half,” he reveals. “Luckily we were exiting so we had time to quickly put a new one on.”

At 6ft 2 he has the task of manipulating Joey’s head and controlling his ears and eyeline, while his shorter colleagues control the heart and hind sections. Jamie says listening to each other is the key to success.

They have to make the eight stone puppet move around the stage, reacting to the actors, as they tell the story of Joey’s journey through the war and the various people he meets, and at one stage even have to make him gallop and leap around.

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“You have to get rid of all ego and listen and breathe in time with each other,” says Jamie.

“It’s weird you spend so much time in this horse with each other it does just start happening naturally and we have lots of opportunity to bring our own personality to Joey.

“Our Joey is quite cheeky, very playful and a bit soppy.”

Oringially from Caldicot in Wales, Jamie always dreamed of appearing on the West End stage and moved to London to study at the The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. He had never even picked up a professional puppet (or ridden a horse) before auditioning in November, but has now fallen in love with the artform.

“It’s just amazing how much people connect to a puppet and all these millions of people who have seen War Horse buy into this concept. They are made from aluminium and cane and it’s only through the puppeteers, and the skills that they have been taught, that it happens.”

He adds: “When we are in rehearsals people don’t come and talk to you they talk to the horse and before the shows I see people go up to Joey and stroke his nose and even I give him a little tap.

“Everyone has just a respect for this puppet. It’s very strange but its what makes the show unique.”

New London Theatre, Drury Lane, booking to February 13, 2016. Details: www.warhorselondon.com or www.nationaltheatre.org.uk