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Trident Theatre
In association with
Moment
By Peter Shaffer
Venue 115 Rocket @ Demarco Roxy Art House
16th
– 21st August
2004 13.00
Tickets: £6/£4
Trident Theatre Company
and Moment present Peter Shaffer’s thought
provoking classic EQUUS. A psychiatrist, Dysart,
investigates the savage blinding of six horses by an
unassuming seventeen-year-old stable boy. As Dysart
exposes the truths behind the boy's demons, he finds
himself face-to-face with his own. Dysart works to
"normalise" the boy but is he stealing the boy’s worship
and sexual vitality--both of which are missing in the
doctor's own personal life.
EQUUS
was directed by Martin Webb of Moment. Martin’s most
recent productions include GREEK [‘A must see’ TIME
OUT, ‘Highly Recommended’ THE TIMES] and WEST
[‘Critic’s choice’ THE TIMES, Winner of THE HERALD
‘Devil Award’]. EQUUS was produced by
Henry R
Swindell one of the founding members of Trident
Theatre. Henry was involved in several of Trident’s
first productions both on stage and backstage. Henry
now works on the BBC Drama series ‘Casualty’.
Cast:
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Martin Dysart |
Rowan Bangs |
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Alan Strang |
Robert McPherson |
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Frank Strang |
David Farrington |
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Dora Strang |
Miranda French |
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Hester Salomon |
Kathryn O'Connor |
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Jill Mason |
Claire Houlton |
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Nugget/Horseman |
Sam Males |
Crew:
Artwork: Martin Tidy
Music: Ex Animo
Stage Manager: Stuart Bangs
Directed by: Martin Webb
Produced by:
Henry R.
Swindell
Special Thanks:
Polly Jane and The Edward Alleyn Theatre, Dulwich
Roger Allen, Digby Bown,
Giles Ramsay
Richard Demarco and The Demarco European Art Foundation
Nicki DuGuay and the Trent Theatre Company
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Reviews:
Equus
Demarco European Art Foundation
Six savagely blinded horses, a seriously disturbed
boy, and a psychiatrist struggling to face his own
realities, combine to form this profoundly burning
production, raising weighty questions concerning the
boundaries of the purest human passions. At two hours
long, the plot develops with un-distilled elegance and
integrity, as does the emotional unravelling of the
troubled teenager, played most beautifully by the
excellent Robert MacPherson. Teamed with a grounding
performance by Rowan Bangs, this cast carries the kind
of earthy believability that is so rare
in this
challenging genre. The purity of this boy's desire for
horses, intrinsically entwined with a sturdy fear of
God, creates a wonderful sexual discomfort for the
audience. Fascinating theatre.
Rocket @ Demarco Roxy Art House, 16-21 Aug, 1:00pm
(3:00pm), £6.00 (£4.00),
fpp146
tw rating 4/5
[rms]
Equus.
(Page 147).
Drams None - a very competent and emotive piece
of theatre.
Venue Rocket @ Demarco Roxy Art House (Venue
115).
Address Lady Glenorchy's Church, Roxburgh
Place.
Reviewer Sophie Lloyd.
Trident Theatre bring an excellent production
of Peter Shaffer's classic play Equus . It is a
disturbing and highly emotional piece of theatre
focusing on the relationship between a psychiatrist
and his patient Alan - a mixed up teenage boy guilty
of blinding six horses with a metal spike.
Sat at his desk on a dimly lit stage is Martin
Dysart, the cool, calm and collected psychiatrist,
who, through the course of the play explores the young
Alan's mind pushing him to re-live various experiences
and reveal some distressing truths. He discovers that
Alan harbours a deep rooted obsession with horses,
verging on the sexual, which has been brought about as
a result of a combination of childhood experiences. A
tense and complex relationship with his parents is
simultaneously discovered. At the same time, incessant
probing from the boy forces Martin himself to face
things he has kept covered.
This complex, erotic and dark script with its riveting
subject matter, explores very disturbing issues and
here is supported by some moving and convincing
performances. They are a talented cast, particularly,
Rowan Bangs as Martin and Robert
MacPhereson as Alan Strang. Audiences are stunned
as the actors leave the stage
in a
lingering dramatic silence.
©Sophie Lloyd 19 August 2004 - Published on
EdinburghGuide.com
Runs to 21 August at 13.00 daily.
Company – Trident Theatre & Moment.
Stunning 21
Aug 2004
reviewer: Darren , Scotland
Possibly the most haunting version of Equus
ever seen. The guy playing Alan Strang was
amazing - some agent really needs to sign
this guy up - his eyes are still reaching
deep inside me. Truly powerful. And guess
what - you didn't actually miss the nudity
normally associated with Equus although I
must admit if Alan had bared his body as
well as his soul it would have doubled the
effect of this piece of theatre and would
therefore have been worthy of at least 10
stars. If you get the chance - go to see it.
It really is amazing. |
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An Excellent 'Equus' 20
Aug 2004
reviewer: Avril Carroll, Scotland
A
powerful and moving version of this
disturbing psychological drama. The cast
were all good but the most forceful
performance giving impetus and meaning to
the whole play was that of Robert MacPherson
as the damaged stable boy. |
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Could be most powerful show at fringe 19
Aug 2004
reviewer: david koskoff, |Plainville,
CT., USThis production could be the most
powerful show at the fringe. Never mind One
Flew Over the Cookoo's Nest. Lad who played
the stable boy was every bit as good as
anyone you will see on Broadway. |
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Equus |
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I suppose
I must have been fairly unique
in
the audience at this show, having never seen
either the play or the film before.
Peter
Shaffer's play has been almost constantly
available on the Fringe for as long as I've been
attending, but somehow our paths have not
crossed until this year.
Trident
Theatre perform a highly enjoyable, if that is
the word, of this modern classic. For those who
do not know, the play centres on Alan Strang,
played by Robert MacPhearson, a dysfunctional
boy who has been found guilty of blinding six
horses and his treatment by 'Shrink' Martin
Dysart played with verve by Rowan Bangs.
The rest
of the cast, Alan's parents, David Farrington
and Miranda French, Lawyer Hester, Kathryn
O'Connor, stable girl Jill, Claire Houlton all
play much smaller roles, but essential just the
same.
The direction is excellent
and full use is made of the minimalistic set, as
for the portrayal by Sam Males as Nugget the
horse, just superb.
**** |
Photos:
Claire Houlton as Jill Mason
David Farrington as Frank Strang
Dysart, Hester and Alan
Frank, Dora and Alan
Kathryn O'Connor as Hester Saloman
Miranda French as Dora Strang
Robert MacPherson as Alan Strang
Robert MacPherson as Alan Strang
Rowan Bangs as Martin Dysart and Rob MacPherson as Alan
Strang
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