Equus

Synopsis

In a Hampshire stable, a youth blinds six horses with a metal spike. Convicted of this appalling crime, seventeen-year-old Alan Strang is sent to a secure psychiatric hospital. Martin Dysart, the child psychiatrist assigned to him, begins to probe Alan s past in an attempt to understand his motives. Initially the boy is silent and uncooperative, but as Dysart digs deeper, he begins to win Alan s trust and the truth gradually emerges. Finally, as Alan struggles to be free of his demons, he must relive the events of that terrible night. Inspired by a true story, Peter Shaffer's unique psychological thriller explores the complex relationships between worship, myth and sexuality. Equus contains strong language, adult themes and nudity. The play won both the Tony Award and New York Critics Circle Award for Best New Play in 1977.

Our Review:

28 February 2007

Wild horses, I thought, wouldn’t drag me to Equus all over again, and I was hardly gagging to see Harry Potter star Richard Griffiths with his kit off (though I might have misconstrued the soft porn publicity on that one). As it turns out, this is a highly impressive revival of Peter Shaffer’s 1973 passion play (last seen seven years ago at the Salisbury Playhouse), with suddenly renewed homoerotic overtones, that proves an ideal stage debut for the other Harry Potter star, 17 year-old Daniel Radcliffe.

Radcliffe plays Alan Strang, a weirdly wired young man who has been referred to the psychiatrist Martin Dysart (Griffiths) after blinding six horses in a stable with a metal spike. He is tremendous – taut, composed, glinting with a kind of malicious glee and absolutely spot-on in charting a progress from childhood to the lost innocence of growing up. Shaffer first heard of the story from his friend and neighbour James Mossman, the televis...

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Latest User Review

Gareth James - 2 June 2007:

I put off going to see this because of my dislike of the recent revival of Royal Hunt of the Sun at the NT, because of mixed reviews and because of all the hype about the casting of Daniel Radcliffe. Still, something was telling me to give it a go and it only had 10 performances to go, so I did so yesterday on impulse. Inside the theatre my heart sank when I saw all those cameras and mobile phones and young DR fans. I took a stage seat, which is more of a stage gallery really, and though there are some visibility and audibility issues, it's a fascinating new experience. Unlike Royal Hunt, which should be timeless but had dated, Equus hasn't dated at all. Thea Sharrock / John Napier's staging is terrific; the scenes with the horse are breathtaking. Richard Griffiths again communicates with an audience as few others can and this play suits that talent. As for Mr Radcliffe, well I think it was a very brave move to take this on but he was right to as it has established him as a very talented stage actor who we'll see a lot more of. Though I'm too old to still be around in his prime, I'm glad I was there at the beginning. You realise the onstage chemistry between him and Griffiths comes from their offstage chemistry as they leave the stage arm-in-arm sharing a joke like the best of friends. And the audience? No mobile rings, no flashes and rapt attention - how wonderful to be proved wrong and to see a new young audience having a thrilling night of first class drama. Justification in itself....

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