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
- Book
- Peter Shaffer
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Mature Audiences (M)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1973
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Rokeby Psychiatric Hospital, Southern England
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- Samuel French
- Ideal For
- College/University, Ensemble Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast
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
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A play that focuses on the emotions, motivations, and mental state of the characters
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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