Emma Cunniffe appears in Peter Shaffer’s acclaimed play Equus, which returns to the stage in a major revival at the Menier Chocolate Factory. The production is directed by Lindsay Posner in a co-production with Theatre Royal Bath.
In this interview, Cunniffe discusses taking on the role of Dora Strang, the enduring impact of Equus, and why the play remains a compelling and challenging experience for contemporary audiences.
Equus runs at the Menier Chocolate Factory from 8 May to 4 July, with previews from 8 May and press night on 18 May. Tickets are available now via the Menier Chocolate Factory website.
You’re starring in Equus at the Menier Chocolate Factory. What can you tell us about the show?
Equus, written by Peter Shaffer, was first produced in 1973. The story unfolds in a psychiatric hospital where Alan Strang, a seventeen-year-old boy, is having therapy sessions with a psychiatrist, Dr. Dysart, in an attempt to understand a violent crime that Alan has committed.
You’re playing Dora Strang, a complex and emotionally driven character. How did you approach stepping into this role for a modern audience?
We are setting the play in the 1970s, when it was originally written, and I think it still really stands up today.
Even though Dora is a housewife in the 1970s and conforms to the traditions and societal expectations of that role, she has previously had a teaching career that she is proud of.
I think Dora’s strong beliefs in her faith, and her emotional journey as a mother and wife, will still resonate with modern audiences. In terms of the human experience, so much is exactly the same today as it was at the time the play was written.
Equus poses some challenging moral and psychological questions. What aspects of the play feel most relevant today?
I think the areas around mental health issues, the pressure teenagers can experience, and the impact this can in turn have on a family dynamic will still feel very relevant today.
This production reunites you with the Menier Chocolate Factory. What does it mean to return to this venue, and how has this experience differed from your previous work here?
I love working at the Menier Chocolate Factory. The last time I worked here was on an American play called Proof.
The intimacy of the space allows you to find detail and feel connected to the audience.
How has working with director Lindsay Posner shaped your understanding of the play and your character?
I am really enjoying working with Lindsay. He is brilliant with the text and great at finding detail in all the characters and the dynamics between them.
Through the rehearsal process, he is encouraging me to embrace all of Dora’s strengths and vulnerabilities.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see Equus?
I first saw this play in Edinburgh in 1993, and the power of it has always stayed with me.
It’s a brilliantly written, cleverly structured, compelling psychological drama that explores the complexity of human emotions. It is unique in its intensity and will hopefully be an exciting night of theatre.
