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How does the staging of the original production of Equus illustrate the plays themes?
- Words:
- 1844
- Submitted:
- Thu Jul 11 2002

... How does the staging of the original production of Equus illustrate the play's themes? The original production of Equus was directed by John Dexter at the National Theatre in July 1973. Shaffer specifically asked for Dexter to direct the play as he felt that Dexter would inject true inspiration and inventive ideas. Shaffer said that Dexter's most powerful method of direction was through suggestion. As a writer, Shaffer felt Dexter could reflect the intentions of the script. Dexter particularly emphasised physical mime in his plays, often being dubbed the "master of gesture". The two had also collaborated on past works of Shaffer such as The Royal Hunt of the Sun and Black Comedy. Both these works heavily emphasised the importance of physical action. Shaffer was weary of publishing the play, as he did not want to do an injustice to the original production. The set for Equus, as carefully illustrated in














