Equus - Staging

The most important thing about the horses in Equus is that they are only representative. They are a creature of Alan's imagination. In Shaffer's notes he takes particular care to say that the horses in Equus should in no way be real. He says that anything that can suggest the familiarity of a real animal, or worse still, a pantomime horse, should be thoroughly avoided. This is because they are merely representing the horses in Alan's flashbacks.
The entire set is a conflict of ideas and Dysart is almost against Alan in the boxing ring. It represents reason versus passion; medicine versus worship; and modern versus ancient. The whole set can mirror that of an Ancient Greek theatre. In the Greek times there was a circular "orchestra" in the middle of the theatre, in front of the stage. In this area the altar would stand, which is what the Greeks would worship to, and the actors would act. Equus is essentially about worship, and so it is appropriate that the set was put on a circle.
The benches also show that every actor is involved in Strang's and Dysart's spiritual journey. They can also represent the many eyes of Equus, making Alan realise that he is never out of his god's sight. The actors in a Greek theatrical performance would also always be in view just like the benches seen in Equus. Incidentally the Greek word for theatre; "theatron" literally translates to "seeing-place" which his what Alan is so afraid of- being seen by Equus.

Florencia and Rosario.