SUDS PRESENTS: EQUUS

A child is born into a world of phenomena all equal in their power to enslave. It sniffs - it sucks - it strokes its eyes over the whole uncomfortable range. Suddenly one strikes. Why? Moments snap together like magnets, forging a chain of shackles.

1973. An abominable crime takes place in the stables of a small town, and a haunted child psychiatrist – Martin Dysart – attempts desperately to know why. In the course of his mission, Dysart not only unravels the mysteries within mysteries of the young Alan Strang, but comes to doubt the purpose of his profession at all.

A personal, biting and galloping piece, Equus has something for everyone. It is a play about why we feel what we do, why we want things, and why we don’t. It is a play that knows us better than we think it does.

And we hope you enjoy it.

Run Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes

Content warnings:

Course language
References to violence
References to self flagellation
References to animal cruelty
Depictions and discussions of mental illness
References to religious trauma
Stylised sexual references
The use of herbal cigarettes

Cast and Crew:
Director: Tom Crennan
Director: Jemma Ryan
Producer: Ella McGrath
Producer: Toby Eastway

Martin Dysart: Rayyan Khan
Alan Strang: Reuben Kemp-Burrows
Dora Strang: Sydney Hure
Frank Strang: Miles Pike
Hesther Salomon: Amytis Ebrahimian
Jill Mason: Isabell Ni
Horseman / Nugget: Stanley Wills
Nurse / Chorus: Roxanne Denham
Dalton: Jai Johnstone

Chorus: Omar Laham
Chorus: Bas Tang

Stage Manager: Finn Muir
Asst. Stage Manager: Eloise Curtin
Sound Director and Conductor: Georgia Andrighetto
Composer: Georgia Andrighetto
Assistant Composers: Jack Lazzarotto, Sophia Bateman Musicians: Jack Lazzarotto, Isabella Petrie, Sophie Lewis, Sophia Bateman, Charlie Curtis, Cate Devlin
Recorded: Catherine Ta, Josh Cook
Sound Operator: Erina Finnigan
Lighting Designer/Op: Baxter Wilson
Asst. Lighting Designer/Op: Minhyo Han
Asst. Lighting Designer/Op: Sonam Jigme
Set Designers: Katya Benschop, Tom Crennan
Prop Designer: Jemma Ryan
Prop Sourcer: Natasha Dixon-Dowd
Production Assistants: Eloise Curtin and Sarah Arayo
Creative Director: Emma Morris
Costume Designer: Alicia Green
Asst. Costume Designer: Emma Morris
Hair and Makeup Artist: Lara Pascoe
Photographer: Emma Morris
Graphics: Tom Crennan, Jemma Ryan, Ella McGrath
Fight and Stunt Coordinator: Sarah Zeppel
Intimacy Coordinator: Karma Georgouras

Special thanks to: Byron Rowley, Finlay Mitchell, Pete Benschop, Sharon Ryan, Tony Bautovich

SUDS acknowledges that the University of Sydney and the Cellar Theatre reside on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. As a society that exists to tell stories, it is crucial to acknowledge the importance of the storytelling traditions that have existed on this land for thousands of years. We acknowledge Elders past and present, and we acknowledge the historical and continued dispossession against First Nations Peoples. Marra yarraman ginha waganha.