Trafalgar Studios One – until 7 September 2019
Reviewed by Adam Craddock
5*****
As a young actor I’ve always been intrigued by the concept that Peter Shaffer’s Equus. The 2 act play follows Adolescent Psychiatrist Martin Dysart on his journey to understand the motivations behind the horrific crimes of a 17 year old boy, Alan Strang, as he seeks to unlock his psyche and delve into his troubled mind. I have seen Equus staged a couple of times before and I have always been a fan but I have to say, Trafalgar Studios production is by far the best performance of this masterpiece I have seen to date.
Zubin Varla gives an acting masterclass in his role as Dysart, with a calm and clinical command over his stage, yet with some subtle layers of the trouble the character feels within. His is by far the strongest performance of this role that I have seen. Ira Mandela Siobhan thrills as Nugget, fully embodying the horse to a level that I was amazed with, this was a performance that truly suspended your disbelief. Massive credit is due to the movement coach for this production – Shelley Maxwell – with her methods of getting people in and out of the horses really amazing me. However the highlight of the piece for me was Ethan Kai in the role of Alan Strang. The way Kai presented Strang with his constant bursts out and evil eyes was both massively unsettling and strangely endearing towards the character, as you wanted to see him get out of the pain he was so clearly in and get through his troubles. I honestly have massive respect for Kai delivering a performance of this quality in what is only his third theatre credit. Well done!
Overall, Equus is a show for the thinking theatregoer. If you are wanting a happy toe tapping show then this isn’t for you (and fairly so). But if you want to have two hours of truly thought provoking drama delivered by some of the best working actors in the industry right now then get yourself to the Trafalgar Studios and buy a ticket before they’re gone. I promise you you won’t regret it!