Equus

Written by Peter Shaffer
Directed by Anne Somes
Presented by Free-Rain Theatre

My desire might be to make this boy an ardent husband – a caring citizen – a worshipper of abstract and unifying God. My achievement, however, is more likely to make a ghost!

Equus by Peter Shaffer is an electric play about passion and worship. Equus is very confronting and sets out to shock, excite and captivate its audience.

It is an exploration of the human condition with its confusions, paradoxes and unanswerable questions, blending the naturalistic with the surreal.

The play exposes the inner most secrets of Alan Strang and Martin Dysart, the psychiatrist who is under an obligation to treat the terrified boy who has committed a crime against 6 horses. The play, though deeply erotic, is also one of tragic conflict.

Alan is a lonely young man who is isolated from others of his own age. His private obsessions with sexual and religious images are converted by his loneliness into a fantasy of worship and passion for Equus.

Dysart revels in Alan’s imagination, his own monologues about his dreams and imaginings are strongly defined. In his reality, he is left with the tedium of everyday life and an unsatisfying marriage.

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In the news

Casting call for open roles in 2 Free-Rain shows

Free-Rain Theatre Company have announced the very talented casts for their three shows on at ACT Hub in 2025. Excitingly, there are still a few roles yet to be cast, so if you’re keen to tread the boards with the amazing talent already cast, we’d love you to send your expression of interest (EOI) to […]

Cast announcement - Equus

Equus by Peter Shaffer is an electric play about passion and worship. Equus is very confronting and sets out to shock, excite and captivate its audience. It is an exploration of the human condition with its confusions, paradoxes and unanswerable questions, blending the naturalistic with the surreal. Free-Rain Theatre Company are thrilled to announce the […]

Free-Rain Theatre Company - Callbacks, Videos & EOIs for ACT Hub Season 2025

Callbacks for Beauty Queen and Lend Me a Tenor will be held on Saturday 18th January at Cook. New auditionees are asked to send an EOI. For Equus, new auditionees are asked to send an EOI.

Details

When: 12 November – 22 November 2025
Where: ACT Hub at Causeway Hall

View program

Performances

Ticket prices

First in best dressed: $30
Under 30yo: $35
Concession: $40
Adult: $45

Cast

Martin Dysart – Arran McKenna
Alan Strang – Jack Shanahan
Frank Strang/Harry Dalton – Bruce Hardie
Dora Strang – Janie Lawson
Hesther Salomon – Crystal Mahon
Jill Mason – Kat Dunkerley
A Nurse – Caitlin Bissett and Lily Welling
Nugget/Young Horseman – Sam Thomson
Horses – James Morgan, Chips Jin, Robert Wearden & Lily Welling

Creatives

Director – Anne Somes
Associate Director – Crystal Mahon
Movement Director – Amy Campbell
Set Design – Cate Clelland
Director of Marketing – Olivia Wenholz

What's on after this?

Hand to God (10 December)