Equus Tickets

About The Equus

Dr. Dysart is dealing with a profession he believes does no good and leaves him feeling empty. His own personal life with his wife is no comfort, as they no longer engage each other. Strang has created a mythical religion around the horses and his god, Equus. The root of his creation is a conflicting battle of religion between his Christian mother and Atheist father. Equus also raises sexual questions as Strang is evidently sexually attracted to his choice of worship and struggles to deal with his own sexual wakening in a society that outwardly restrains natural feelings and urges.

Equus challenges the social norms and asks whether we are truly protected by our social values or whether they constrain us and leave us bound to a dull, pointless life.

Equus: History

Equus was written by Peter Shaffer in 1973 after he read an article about a teenage boy, Alan Strang, who blinded six horses. Shaffer wrote Equus with a sort of detective scheme in which the psychologist digs to find the true causes of the crime and the boys worship.

Equus originally ran at the Royal National Theatre at the Old Vic in London in 1973. Equus made its way to the United States in 1975 and won the Tony Award for Best Play.

A film version of Equus was produced in 1977 starring Richard Burton, who reprised his role as Dr. Dysart in the first stage run.