There are some plays that remain with one always. British playwright Peter Shaffer’s 1973 play ‘Equus’ is one of those plays.

For the uninitiated, Equus tells the story of disturbed teenager Alan Strang who is accused of inexplicable acts of violence after blinding six horses with a metal spike. A leading child psychiatrist, Martin Dysart, is given the difficult job of trying to get to the bottom of Strang’s disturbance.

I remember many years ago seeing a production of ‘Equus’ at the Seymour Centre. It was a knockout. It felt like a primal scream. The questions the play asked were huge. How much to the influences of our family and environment effect our make-up? How much do society’s expectations and pressures dominate our lives? As well as taking away the worst about ourselves, do these pressures as well take away the best parts of ourselves?!

I recently revisited the play, seeing Helen Tonkin’s current revival at the New Theatre, and the play has lost none of its power.

Tonkin’s production is intense. The two leads were great, playing deeply conflicted characters. As Alan Strang, Luke Rogers was in the zone for his characters’ entire nightmarish odyssey. Barry French was outstanding as a psychiatrist in crisis, in a similar head-space to a priest no longer believing in his vows.

The supporting cast performed strongly. Special mention goes to the actors playing the horses; Luke Carson, Wade Doolan, Jessica Joseph-McDermott, Ned Law and Mackenzie Steele. With their horse masks, designed by Martina Moutzouris, and their horse-like movements, they were fierce. Adam Chantler’s evocative stables set was a highlight, as was Blake Garner’s vivid lighting.

Recommended, Helen Tonkin’s production of Peter Shaffer’s ‘Equus’ opened at the New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown on Saturday 2nd October and runs until Saturday 23rd October, 2010.