Daniel Radcliffe - Dan's stage performance in Equus #2

**heaven85** · 11-01-2007, 11:14 PM

Who: Daniel Radcliffe - Alan Strang / Richard Griffiths - Dr. Martin Dysart
What: Equus - A Revival production of Peter Shaffer's Tony Award winning play
Where: London's West End , venue to be announced
When: Previews start Feburary 16th, 2007, Opening March 2007 through to June 9th 2007

Quote:

Radcliffe & Griffiths Star in Equus Revival

Teenaged Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe (pictured) will star alongside Richard Griffiths, who last month won the Tony Award for Best Actor for The History Boys, in Peter Shaffer’s Equus in a West End production directed by Thea Sharrock opening in March 2007. A venue has not yet been confirmed for David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers’ production, which is due to start previews on 16 February 2007.

Equus, which tells the story of a troubled 17 year-old stable boy who blinds his horses, was originally produced by the National Theatre at the Old Vic in 1973, directed by John Dexter, and starring Alec McCowen as psychiatrist Martin Dysart and Peter Firth as Alan Strang, the patient. The play transferred to Broadway starring Anthony Hopkins and Firth, where it ran for 1,200 performances and received the Tony Award for Best Play in 1975, making it one of the most successful plays in New York history.

The controversial drama, which was made into a Hollywood film starring Richard Burton in 1977, is based on a true story. Shaffer (whose other plays include The Royal Hunt of the Sun – currently in rep at the National), was inspired to write Equus when he heard of a crime involving a teenage boy's apparently senseless injury to horses. The play will require Radcliffe to simulate sexual satisfaction while riding naked on a horse.

Radcliffe, who made his stage debut as a celebrity guest in The Play What I Wrote (also produced by Pugh and Rogers) after finding fame as the young wizard in the film adaptations of JK Rowling's popular books, will star as Alan Strang in Equus for 16 weeks to 19 June 2007. Griffiths – who incidentally plays Harry’s nasty uncle in the Harry Potter films - will play his psychiatrist, Martin Dysart, who tries to understand the motives behind the boy’s actions in the drama.

dr.co.uk personal message from Dan

Quote:

"I'm really excited to be part of this production. I'm thrilled to be working with Richard Griffiths again. This is obviously a huge departure for me as an actor, but Equus is such an amazing play that this really was an opportunity not to be missed.

Rehearsal starts in January and I'm very much looking forward to working with Thea Sharrock who is an incredibly talented Director and only hope I do the role justice!"

Another message from Dan to his fans...

Quote:

"I just wanted to thank all my fans for the tremendous support you have shown me in my forthcoming role of Alan Strang in Peter Shaffer's Equus. As you know, this is an incredibly powerful drama and the decision to play this part was not one taken lightly. This role will stretch me as an actor further than I can possibly imagine and I am so excited to be involved in this production and to be directed in my theatre debut by one of the most talented directors working today, Thea Sharrock. I am also delighted to be starring opposite Richard Griffiths who of course, aside from playing 'my Uncle Vernon' was just recently awarded a Tony for his performance in The History Boys. He is truly a remarkable actor and there is no one I'd rather have guide me through this unique stage experience. Thank you again, your support means the world to me".

Quote:

Melbourne's Herald Sun
Re performing a nude scene

Dan: "All the other actors who have ever played the part have done that, so for me not to do it wouldn't really be playing the part", he says. "It would be a watered down version. It wouldn't be the same."

"I'll be incredibly nervous, but I think, 'it's in the script; it's got to be done'. I'm terrified, but excited."

From dr.co.uk

Quote:

For those of you who are a bit older, I thought it might be useful to pass along some additional information regarding the play "Equus." While I wouldn't recommend the book to under-aged fans, it is filled with additional information which "brings to light" the true meaning of the story by Peter Shaffer. The book, Equus, published by Penguin Plays, is "recommended for discussion" by the Great Books Foundation. Not only did it win a Tony Award, it also won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, The Drama Desk Award, and the New York Outer Critics Award for Best Play of 1975.

Quoted directly off of the book itself, Clive Barnes, of the New York Times, deemed it "a very important play", while the Sunday Express (London) said, "Quite simply, Equus is magnificent." Not all of you will have the means to acquire a copy of the book, therefore, I'd like to share the caption from the back cover:

"In Equus, which took critics and public alike by storm and has gone on to become a modern classic, Peter Shaffer depicts the story of a deranged youth who blinds six horses with a spike. through a psychiatrist's analysis of the events, Shaffer creates a chilling portraint of how materialism and convenience have killed our capacity for worship and passion and, consequently, our capacity for pain. Rarely has a playwright created an atmosphere and situation that so harshly pinpoint the spiritual and mental decay of modern man."

On page nine of the book, Shaffer explains how he had heard of a horrible crime, and before he could verify the details of the crime, his friend had died. He was inspired to interpret "the act" of crime in an entirely personal way.

An Equus rehearsal clip ~ From another stage production (not Dan's)
A performance clip ~ From the same acting company. warning: distrubing images but no nudity in this clip.
1977 Equus movie trailer ~ Staring Richard Burton and Peter Firth. Directed by Sidney Lumet

Feel free to discuss your feelings about it and if you are ever so lucky to be able to actually see one of these performances please tell us about it.

**heaven85** · 11-01-2007, 11:18 PM

From previous thread:

Quote:

Originally Posted by baileycat (View Post)

According to Thisislondon.co.uk, 'a dazzling year of performances on the London stage will be honoured at the 2007 Evening Standard Theatre Awards. Stars including Daniel Radcliffe, Robert Lindsay, John Simm, Jessica Lange, Billie Piper, Rosamund Pike and Kristin Scott Thomas are among the dozens who are under consideration for prizes.'

Hopefully he'll make the short list! *cross your fingers*

I hope so too

**baileycat** · 11-02-2007, 04:23 AM

Thanks for starting a new thread Lina. I completely forgot to check the post status on the last one. *slaps head*

**baileycat** · 11-02-2007, 05:04 AM

OMG! It's official! Dan's coming to Broadway!!!!

Quote:

We are pleased to announce that it has been confirmed by Dan's Publicist that Dan will, in fact, appear on Broadway in EQUUS in September 2008. He will reprise his role as Alan Strang, opposite Richard Griffiths as Dr. Dysart.

For Daniel it's the fulfilment of a dream he did not think possible.

"I dare not think about going to New York, because it might never happen. If it comes off it will be brilliant," the young actor told me when we talked during his run in the Peter Shaffer play, which packed the Gielgud earlier this year.
Thea Sharrock will again direct the stage production and rehearsals will begin next August. According to the Daily Mail , it took months for negotiations to be finalized before a deal would be secured with the Shubert Organisation. Producers David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers sorted out the paperwork for the play's two leading men to perform in New York.

"We're delighted that New York is now going to witness Richard and Daniel's extraordinary performances," Mr Pugh said.

Dan was recently acknowledged by the London Evening Standard's drama award judging panel including him in its best actor nominees long list for his role as Alan Strang in EQUUS.

source ~ dr.co.uk

**heaven85** · 11-03-2007, 08:04 PM

This is the best news ever!!!! I'm so happy and excited for him!!! I so want to go.

**baileycat** · 11-04-2007, 05:09 AM

To think he'll be living over here for at least a few months during the run. The first time for him to live away from his family for a long period of time. And in New York City at that! It's going to be an exciting time for him too.

**heaven85** · 11-05-2007, 02:10 PM

A totally exciting time for him. It will be good for him as well I'll think.

**baileycat** · 11-05-2007, 07:57 PM

New BBC article about Dan on Broadway!

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Radcliffe to make Broadway debut

Quote:

Radcliffe told BBC News he was "incredibly excited" about the opportunity to appear in New York.

"Of course there's nerves. If I wasn't nervous then I would be dead," he said.

"It's a good thing, it's healthy. I'm obviously nervous but I'm very very excited," he added.

So cool!

izzybusy · 11-06-2007, 07:52 AM

Found this for y'all! Sorry if someone's already posted it!
He gets in the nuddy again! Woo!

Daniel Radcliffe interview

**heaven85** · 11-06-2007, 08:25 PM

Thanks for the information.

**xxcozmicstar** · 11-10-2007, 08:13 PM

Damnit! I wanna goo!! NYC is a lot closer then London, but still so far!
Well, maybe I can convince my mom to have a summer vacation there...
God I hope so!

**baileycat** · 11-14-2007, 08:24 AM

View Equus for FREE in London!

Quote:

We have some awesome news that you might be interested in if you never got the chance to see EQUUS on London's West End Stage. The National Archive of Video Performance home page (at the V&A Theatre Collections website) is currently featuring Daniel Radcliffe in his role as Alan Strang in the Peter Shaffer play 'Equus'.

A full recording of the play can be viewed for free, but by appointment, through the Victoria and Albert Museum's Theatre Collection screening facilities in London. Individual researchers may view recordings by appointment at the Theatre Collections research facility at Blythe House in Olympia. Email tmenquiries@vam.ac.uk to book an appointment.
Group viewings take place in the Theatre Collections education space in the V&A Museum, South Kensington. Email tmgroups@vam.ac.uk for booking details.

source ~ dr.co.uk

GAH! Londoners have it so great don't they?

**heaven85** · 11-15-2007, 10:48 PM

Awwww. They do have it so great. I would love to go too.

**baileycat** · 11-16-2007, 08:10 AM

Equus on broadway news! Playbill News: Equus Revival Will Arrive on Broadway in September 2008

Quote:

the revival of the Peter Shaffer work will begin performances on Broadway Sept. 25, 2008, for a limited engagement through Feb. 8, 2009. The Shubert Organization and David Pugh, LLC will produce the Broadway run; Elizabeth I. McCann and Joey Parnes will be the show's general managers. Thea Sharrock, who directed the London company, will direct here as well; rehearsals begin Aug. 11.

**heaven85** · 11-17-2007, 12:23 AM

That's awesome. Its all really happening.