Equus (1984)
Directed by Ann Parnell-McGarry and Tony Westhead
Performances: Sun 2nd Tue 4th – Sat 8th September 1984, Bell Theatre
Contents
Introduction
EQUUS.....One weekend over two years ago, I was driving with a friend through bleak countryside. We passed a stable. Suddenly he was reminded by it of an alarming crime which he had heard about recently at a dinner party in London. He knew only one terrible detail and his complete mention of it could barely have lasted a minute - but it was enough to arouse in me an intense fascination. The act had been committed several years before by a highly disturbed young man. It had deeply shocked a local bench of magistrates. It lacked finally any coherent explanation. A few months later my friend died. I could not verify what he had said, or ask him to expand it. He had given me no name, no place and no time. I don't think he knew them. All I possessed was his report of a dreadful event, and the feeling engendered in me. I knew very strongly that I wanted to interpret it in some entirely personal way. I had to create a mental world where the dead could be made comprehensible. Peter Schaffer 1973.
The time is the present. The main action takes place in Rokesby Psychiatric Hospital in Southern England.
Cast
- Nurse - Merion Taylor
- Martin Dysart - Michael Hughes
- Hesther Salomon - Ann Mattey
- Alan Strang - Gerard Ahearn
- Frank Strang - Ken Lucas
- Dora Strang - Delia Taitt
- Horseman - Andrew Harrington
- Harry Dalton - Jim Judd
- Jill Mason - Christine Dodds
- Nuggett - Paul Mitchell
- Horses - Kathy Vestin, Winston Taylor, Michelle Whittle, Sally Lill, Robert Holden
Crew
- Stage Manager - Amanda Crawford
- Assistant Stage Managers - Lydia Edwards, Dahlia Ebank & Nicola Lee
- Set & Lighting Design - Dominic Bailey
- Paintings - Daniel Dahl
- Lighting Realisation & Operator - Brian Fretwell
- Sound - Stephen Smith
- Music - David Cathcart
- Masks - V. Wright
- Movement - Bronwyn Williams
- Rigging - Bernie Bullbrook, Don North & David Lamkin
- Production Assistant - David Hickman
Reviews
Some review quotes go here
Gallery
- Colour Photos by Brian Fretwell
Martin Dysart - Michael Hughes
Martin Dysart - Michael Hughes & Hesther Salomon - Ann Mattey
Dora Strang - Delia Taitt & Martin Dysart - Michael Hughes
Alan Strang - Gerard Ahearn & Jill Mason - Christine Dodds groom a horse
Alan Strang's nightmare
Alan Strang - Gerard Ahearn & Jill Mason - Christine Dodds
Reminiscences and Anecdotes
Members are encouraged to write about their experiences of working on or seeing this production. Please leave your name. Anonymous entries may be deleted.
See Also
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