Preview: EQUUS

It’s a dark and stormy Sunday afternoon that I intended on spending in my onesie at home with some boring degree work. Instead, I’m in EEE on campus watching the preview […]


It’s a dark and stormy Sunday afternoon that I intended on spending in my onesie at home with some boring degree work. Instead, I’m in EEE on campus watching the preview for Equus. I must say, it was going to take a lot to convince me that this was a better expenditure of my day than a lazy-one-at-home – but I was not disappointed.
The cast of Equus in a rehearsal

The cast of Equus in a rehearsal

Minutes after I arrived (and accordingly, less than 20 minutes since I’d been half asleep in my pyjamas) the cast started their warm up. Who knew that TG are such One Direction fans? The enthusiasm of the cast is infectious, which bled into the rest of the rehearsal and was a great reminder of the kind of cast moments one joins a performing arts society for.
The play, as a heads up for those intending to see it, is very sombre play indeed. Possibly most famous as ‘that play that Harry Potter whipped his willy out in’, this version is sadly devoid of penises to giggle at. However, it is not without a racy scene or two, so do not fret, oh ye lovers of nudity.
In all seriousness, the show is looking brilliant. Well rehearsed and looking as polished as it can be in a halogen lit lecture theatre, the show touches on themes of religion, obsession, psychologically damaged children and strange equestrian fantasy. It might not be to everybody’s taste, but you’ll never know unless you try – I turned up in the frame of mind of ‘this had better be worth my weekend time’ but I’m now well and truly sold on the show and will be booking my ticket as soon as I can. It’s definitely not a ‘light’ piece of theatre, but instead a marvellously provocative production guaranteed to haunt you for a while after you leave the theatre.

 

As a side note, the horses heads are creepy as hell – you have been warned.