Equus
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.
Contents
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 and the girl was played by ***.
Presented by Pieter Toerien at the Baxter Theatre in December 1985, directed by Rex Garner and Robert Whitehead, starring New Zealnad-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. Revived in 1991 and 1999 (the latter directed by Roy Sargeant, with Sean Taylor).
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
UTS theatre programme, April 1982.
The Argus, Novenber 25 1985.
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