Overview
Synopsis
Dr. Martin Dysart, a dissatisfied and disaffected psychiatrist, is faced with a unique case when a young man, Alan Strang, is brought to him for treatment. Alan, a passionate and obsessive horse lover, has blinded six horses, to the horror and surprise of his family. In his efforts to coax Alan out of his shell and treat him, Dr. Dysart begins to unravel the complex psychological puzzle of Alan’s obsessions. Underneath Alan’s complacent manner, Dr. Dysart discovers a fervent, passionate, almost religious power that has both the power to destroy Alan, and perhaps, to save the doctor himself. English playwright Sir Peter Shaffer’s international hit is a dazzling, complex, and thrilling look at passion, sex, religion, and sanity.
Show Information
Context
By the early 1970s, Peter Shaffer was an established playwright in London. His next play topic came from a friend’s story that was originally heard at a dinner party: A young man, for no explicable reason, violently blinded 26 horses. While the event was never verified, and Shaffer didn’t learn any other information, he had the material for Equus.
To responsibly represent the science of psychiatry, Shaffer worked closely with a child psychiatrist so that he could accurately write the
to read the context for Equus and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
The stage is simple: A large wooden square, like a boxing ring with a rail on three sides, sits on a circle of wood. This is the playing space, set with only simple wooden benches as the scenes require. All actors are onstage and visible at all times. Scenes flow smoothly into the next.
Martin Dysart, a child psychiatrist, directly addresses the audience. He is responsible for treating 17-year-old Alan Strang, now hospitalized after brutally blinding six horses. Dysart has become
to read the plot for Equus and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
Character Portrayals
See StageAgent members who have performed roles in Equus.
Want to be featured on this page? Update your credits.
Monologues
Scenes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Themes
Passion vs. Normalcy: The central conflict contrasts Alan’s overwhelming, almost religious passion for horses with the “normal” but emotionally numb lives of those around him. Shaffer questions whether societal definitions of sanity suppress individuality and true vitality.
Religion and Worship: Alan’s worship of horses mirrors elements of Christianity and paganism, exploring how faith and ritual can both uplift and consume.
Sexuality and Repression: The play examines the
to read about the themes, symbols and motifs from Equus and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Key Terms
Catharsis is the emotional release experienced by the audience at the conclusion of a tragedy or intense dramatic work. It allows viewers to purge feelings of fear, pity, or tension through the resolution of the play’s conflict. The concept dates back to Aristotle, who believed catharsis was central to the purpose of theatre.
A theatrical style that distorts reality to convey inner emotional experience, popular in early 20th-century drama.
A theatrical style that emphasizes simplicity in staging and dialogue to focus attention on core themes and performance.
A genre exploring internal conflict, motivation, and emotion, often rooted in realism and character study.
A speech delivered by a character alone on stage, revealing inner thoughts or emotions to the audience. Common in Shakespearean plays.
A movement and technique using symbolic imagery and metaphors to express abstract ideas and inner experiences.
