Equus storms into Bath this week with great style and visual brilliance, an absolute must for any local theatre students or lovers of excellent theatre.

Photo © The Other Richard
Peter Shaffer is well known for exploring the unusual and here he takes the story of Alan Strang (Ethan Kai) who is committed to a psychiatric unit rather than prison for having blinded six horses.
Alan is the product of a controlling father and religious Mother. His behaviour is unravelled by the beleaguered but ultimately brilliant Psychiatrist Martin Dysart (Zubin Varla), who through a series of tricks and trust finds out the eventual truth behind such a sadistic attack.

Photo © The Other Richard
Ethan Kai as Alan Strang is outstanding from his initial lack of communication through to the brutal nightmarish images that haunt his life.
Zubin Varla as Dysart is equally mesmerising in a role that leaves him onstage throughout, observing and analysing his young patient. His sadness and isolation not dissimilar and surprisingly somehow yearning for the impulsive, erotic life of Alan.
The entire company multi role with ease; whether human or horse. However Ira Mandela Siobhan as Nugget the central horse is extraordinary. The relationship between Nugget and Alan is never in doubt whilst the superb direction (Ned Bennett) and movement direction (Shelley Maxwell) creates a world in which we can totally believe. However minimalist it may appear.

Photo © The Other Richard
The production is fluid and dreamlike throughout; the design (Georgia Lowe), lighting (Jessica Hung Han Yun) and sound (Giles Thomas) ensure that we weave seamlessly through Alan’s journey.
The cast and production are equally impressive. Shaffer digs deep into base, feral passions in his exploration of why young people commit horrific crimes and just how these behaviours are often the result of a much bigger story; which can mean very different things to the patient and the people around them.
Challenging and thought provoking but outstanding throughout.
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Reviewer: Petra Schofield
Equus, by Peter Shaffer and directed by Ned Bennett, is showing at the Theatre Royal in Bath until Saturday 6th April 2019.
For more information, and tickets, visit the Theatre Royal website.