Full casting has been revealed for Peter Shaffer’s Equus revival at the Menier Chocolate Factory, starring Toby Stephens and Noah Valentine. The production explores the fraught relationship between a psychiatrist and a disturbed teenager, with a run in London and a subsequent transfer to Theatre Royal Bath.

The Menier Chocolate Factory’s revival of Equus, directed by Lindsay Posner, will open on 8 May and run until 27 June. The production is a co-production with Theatre Royal Bath, where it will transfer for a run from 13 to 25 July.

Toby Stephens takes on the role of Dr Martin Dysart, the psychiatrist tasked with treating 17-year-old Alan Strang, played by Noah Valentine. Alan is responsible for blinding six horses, and Dysart grapples with the nature and consequences of psychiatric treatment throughout the play.

The cast also includes Amanda Abbington as Hesther Salomon, Bella Aubin as Jill Mason, Emma Cunniffe as Dora Strang, Paula James as Nurse, Colin Mace as Frank Strang, Ed Mitchell as Nugget/Young Horseman, and David Rubin as Dalton. Additional ensemble members are Luke Hodkinson, Aristide Lyons, Zach Parkin, Tommi Sutton and Moses Ward.

First premiered in 1973, Equus has seen numerous revivals both in the UK and internationally. The play remains notable for its psychological depth and complex exploration of passion and pathology.

The creative team features set and costume designer Paul Farnsworth, lighting designer Paul Pyant, composer and sound designer Adam Cork, and movement director James Cousins. Their contributions aim to bring contemporary energy to Shaffer’s challenging script.

This revival joins an ongoing tradition of revisiting Equus as a compelling examination of human psyche and morality within British theatre.