Equus

Writing this while riding on the crest of the wave of a couple of truly incredible opening nights, it’s strange to think that it was only six months ago it all began – typically, of course, in a pub!

When I, the show’s Producer Jed, and my co-director Mike, sat down to discuss our favourite theatrical shows and the kind of things we’d be interested in bringing to the University of Southampton’s very own Annex Theatre, we ended up chatting about our ambitions within the theatrical world and, coincidentally, all found that we wanted to move away from the comedies we’d put on in the past and tackle something a little meatier, a text we could all sink our metaphorical teeth into, so to speak!

And what could be more challenging, and ultimately more rewarding, than a psychological thriller with hints of horror (particularly apt at Halloween!) and tragedy about it that caused huge ripples in its time? So without further ado, I’m very proud indeed to be co-directing the team performing Peter Shaffer’s challenging and controversial play, Equus, at the University this very week – if you’ve not already seen our trailer, check it out below!

It’s been quite an experience preparing for it as, having only just got over the Edinburgh (ahh, sorry!) post-show Blues at the beginning of September, Mike and I were immediately confronted by the pressing need to undergo groundwork for Equus – rehearsals started only two and half weeks after we’d got back!

Since then I’ve been a minor part of an absolutely brilliant team networking, promoting, scheduling, budgeting, blocking, managing, applying, scoring, sourcing, conveying information to and from parties, balancing it all with a degree and struggling in general conversation to think of anything other than the play to talk about – just ask my housemates who, whenever they try to drum up a conversation with me at the moment, are usually supplied with horse-related ravings!

Equus follows the investigation of a middle-aged Hampshire based psychiatrist, Martin Dysart, into the case of 17 year old Alan Strang who, in an inexplicable fit of rage, blinded five horses at a nearby stable. It falls on Dysart to find out what led the boy to this horrific act, and in doing so he begins to question the validity of his own practice and indeed his own state of mind.

Suitably atmospheric for the time of the year, then!

We wanted audience members to leave Equus chilled by a good scare or two – it is Halloween, after all!

When we set out, we had no idea just how much talent there really was on offer at the University!

And with two nights down and two to go, we’ve been absolutely blown over by the audience response we’ve had so far, including an extremely flattering five-star review, the first of any show I’ve been involved with, from the student publication The Edge, which you can give a glance here. We don’t want to blow our own trumpets, but the reception the production team have experienced has been overwhelmingly positive and exciting, and has really made all those late nights spent planning, designing, redrafting and generally selling our souls to the show all the more worth it!

But the achievement ultimately isn’t ours. Equus is such a highly demanding text, such a controversial and gruesome yet highly engaging and intense play, that for it to be performed, it requires absolute and total commitment on behalf of its actors, and we’ve been truly privileged to receive just that from the members of SUSU Theatre Group. In every single rehearsal our cast have constructed beautifully detailed characters and completely gone for it, not once losing energy or focus, in turn demonstrating levels of talent and willingness we never expected to witness in the University’s theatre, let alone in a play I’m part of the team for – trying to find things to constructively criticise in the final few rehearsals has been challenging to say the least!

And such professionalism has been more than matched by that exhibited in the work of the staging society, StageSoc, whose implementation and execution of our vision for the show has been nothing short of stunning. Seeing it come to life for the first time on stage was one of the most exciting experiences of my life to date, and it’s all down to the conscientious work of the people behind the scenes, with a particularly grateful mention for our enigmatic and imaginative technical director Dan Barr, to make our heavy technical requirements and vague descriptions a reality, so we can’t thank them enough.

We were also delighted to welcome a nationally recognised director from the National Student Drama Festival (NSDF) to see the opening show, and her presence in the audience inspired us all, as well as providing us with feedback afterwards which should prove invaluable in helping us to refine the show in its final runs. After all, just seeing it being performed with an audience in tow on the night was surreal enough!

However, the best aspect of being part of Equus from the beginning has been just how much fun I’ve had doing it. From the early meetings in cafes and pubs, where most of our ideas bloomed as we just chatted about the play itself, to the lengthy audition sessions (where most of the inter-team disagreements took place – ultimately for the show’s benefit though!), the plotting and execution of a dense rehearsal schedule to the nights spent listening to multitudes of royalty-free music selections, from the technical meetings where reality began to sink in, to the actual performances themselves, every step of the way I’ve enjoyed myself (despite the ever-growing fatigue throughout!), surrounded by incredibly creative, inspirational and personable fellow students who, despite the dark thematic elements of the show, have been an absolute joy to work with from day one, and given me a great buzz of anticipation and excitement ever since the idea was first mooted.

It’s been a pleasure to work with such an awesome group of people from the beginning – ‘proud’ doesn’t begin to cover it!

And despite the dark nature of the show, we made sure to enjoy it along the way!

I know I say it before (and after!) every show on here, but when and where else could I have been part of something as special as this? It seems remarkable that, entering my third year now, life at Southampton can continue to be quite so fulfilling: Equus most certainly has been.

SUSU Theatre Group’s Equus is showing on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 November 2013 at the Annex Theatre, Highfield Campus, with both performances beginning at 7.30pm. Tickets are £9 for Adults, £6 for Students and Concessions, and £5 for Performing Arts Members, and can be purchased via the SUSU Box Office or online at www.annextheatre.co.uk – with demand high, advance purchase is highly recommended! We hope to see you there!

Robin