Difference between revisions of "Equus"

From ESAT
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 39: Line 39:
  
  
= Return to =
+
== Return to ==
  
Return to [[ESAT Plays 2 E|E]] in Plays 2 Foreign Plays
+
Return to [[PLAYS I: Original SA plays]]
  
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Plays]]
+
Return to [[PLAYS II: Foreign plays]]
 +
 
 +
Return to [[PLAYS III: Collections]]
 +
 
 +
Return to [[PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances]]
 +
 
 +
Return to [[South_African_Festivals|South African Festivals and Competitions]]
  
 
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
 
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
  
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
Return to [[Main Page]]

Revision as of 06:33, 2 June 2015

Equus by Peter Shaffer. It is the story of Alan Strang, a stable boy whom a magistrate has sent to a busy, initially reluctant psychiatrist. The boy has been in court for putting out the eyes of five horses with a hoof-pick. The unfurling of the careful wrappings of the boy's mind is the essence of the play.


South African productions

Professional productions

First produced in South Africa by Pieter Toerien. Directed by Leonard Schach at the Nico Malan Opera House, for the Pieter Toerien management in 1975. Schach had to meet with Publications Board about the nudity scene where the boy kills the horses. They objected to the boy's nudity, but not to the killing of the horses. Schach offered to compromise by lowering the lighting by a few degrees and the production went ahead. The production featured Dai Bradley and John Fraser as the psychiatrist, both of whom came from London to play the roles, alongside locals Robert Butler, Kim Braden, Anne Courtneidge, Fiona Fraser as Hester, Michael Howard and Edwin van Wyk. Decor realised by Bill Smuts. This production was also staged in Johannesburg.

Presented by Pieter Toerien at the Alhambra Theatre opening 10 August 1985 and at the Baxter Theatre in December 1985, directed by Rex Garner and Robert Whitehead, starring New Zealand-born Darryl Forbes Dawson and, as Alan Strang, Jeremy Crutchley. Other members of the cast were Christine le Brocq, Joanna Palmer, Norman Coombes, Shelagh Holliday, Paul Buckby, Drummond Marais, Merle Lifson and Robert Butler. Revived in 1991 and 1999 (the latter directed by Roy Sargeant, with Sean Taylor).

PACOFS with James van Helsdingen, Blaise Koch, Diane Olivier, Hennie Baird and Ernst Eloff (Year?) (Source: Photograph, NELM [Collection: Performing Arts Council Orange Free State (PACOFS)]: 2009. 67. 1. 2. 11).

Translations

An Afrikaans version of the play, translated by **, was done by *** in 1978, featuring **, ** and Bo Petersen. Also done in German in Windhoek by SWAPAC in 19*.

The Afrikaans translation by Yvette Weyers was presented in the H.B. Thom Theatre by Universiteitsteater Stellenbosch in April 1982, directed by Noël Roos, with Johann van Heerden (Martin Dysart), Neels Engelbrecht (Alan Strang), Anton Smith (Frank Strang), Elzette Pretorius/Ilzebet Uys (Dora Strang), Isadora Verwey (Hester Salomon), Tossie van den Heever/Karen Usmar-Blake (Jill Mason & Verpleegster), Herman Pretorius (Harry Dalton), Albert Maritz (Ruiter & Nugget) and others.

Student versions

In September 1988 the University of Stellenbosch Drama Department did a fully nude student version of the play in Afrikaans (the translation by Yvette Weyers), directed by Noël Roos, with Waldemar Schultz as the boy, Perlé van Schalkwyk and Lin-y Kruger alternating as the girl, and featuring Jannie Hofmeyr as the psychiatrist.

Done in 2013 by UJ Arts & Culture, Directed by Alby Michaels at the Con Cowan Theatre at the University of Johannesburg April 2013. With Jeremy Richard, Pieter Rossouw , Anton Dekker, Lizelle de Klerk, Isadora Verwey and Jonathan Taylor.

Sources

Artslink[1]

Inskip, 1977. p 128.

UTS theatre programme, April 1982.

The Argus, Novenber 25 1985.


Return to

Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays

Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays

Return to PLAYS III: Collections

Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances

Return to South African Festivals and Competitions

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page