Equus is based on the shocking true story of a 17-year-old boy who blinded some horses. Writer Peter Shaffer wrote the play to explore what could have caused the incident.
In this revival of the show by director Lindsay Posner, Toby Stephens is Dr Martin Dysart, a child psychiatrist who is tasked with finding out why the teenager, Alan Strang played by Noah Valentine, committed the horrific act.
Set in the hospital where Alan is being treated with flashbacks as he tells the doctor what happened, be prepared for an intense few hours watching a play that deals with animal abuse, sexual tension, fetishes and emotional frustrations with some full frontal nudity thrown in too.
All the cast are terrific but Stephens and Valentine are both superb as the central characters locked in a compelling psychological battle.
Playing the horses are six topless men who wear no animal costumes but still manage to convey the non-humans they are meant to be in a stunningly realistic way thanks to their ballet-like movements and interaction with their handlers.
A scene with Alan and Nugget (Ed Mitchell), the horse he obsesses over as an equine god called Equus, is particularly breathtaking.
The set is a very simple affair but it’s highly effective. The only furniture is benches and when not performing, Toby Stephens, Emma Cuniffe and Colin Mace (Alan’s parents) and Amanda Abbington (magistrate Hesther Salomon) remain on stage sat on the benches. This is a brilliant technique which allows the action to flow without interruption.
There’s a dark and tense atmosphere throughout the show with some clever use of lighting. The scene where Alan blinds the horses is terrifyingly dramatic thanks to Noah Valentine and the horses’ performances, flashing strobes and pumping music.
Equus has a long and distinguished history. First performed at London’s National Theatre in 1973, Anthony Hopkins, Richard Burton, Leonard Nimoy and Anthony Perkins all took on the role of Dr Dysart on Broadway.
The show made big headlines in 2007 and 2008 when Daniel Radcliffe played Alan Strang in a role very far removed from his Harry Potter persona.
Over 50 years on, Equus is still a hugely powerful and psychologically haunting show. It’s a theatre classic that we urge you to experience.
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Equus is at Theatre Royal Bath until 25 July.
Images by Manuel Harlan
