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Darker side of Harry Potter
Evening Standard 03.11.06
Horse play: the poster for the Gielgud's production of Equus shows Daniel Radcliffe's torso morphing into a stallion
Magical: Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter
We're used to Daniel Radcliffe defying gravity astride his wizard's broom or facing down his nemesis Lord Voldemort but here is the Harry Potter star in an entirely different light.
Heralding his debut on the West End stage, this poster for Peter Shaffer's masterpiece Equus shows Radcliffe's naked torso morphing into the head of a horse.
The play, about a young man's attacks on horses and a psychiatrist's attempt to explain them, is altogether different fare from what Potter fans are used to, requiring his character Alan Strang to appear naked on stage.
Radcliffe will star alongside Richard Griffiths, who won a 2006 Tony Award for his Broadway performance in The History Boys - a part he reprised in the hit film.
The 17-year-old star said: "As a young actor the opportunity to perform in Peter Shaffer's awardwinning play Equus is a dream come true. Alan Strang is an incredibly complex and dark character and I'm honoured to be entrusted with playing him and working with Thea Sharrock and Richard Griffiths."
This will be the first major new production of Equus since 1973. Shaffer's play originally opened at the National Theatre before transferring-to the West End and Broadway-for record-breaking runs. It won the 1975 Tony Award for best play and was made into a film starring Richard Burton in 1977.
Radcliffe, who is filming the fifth instalment of JK Rowling's wizard series, Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix, is featured among a select group of British teenagers who have been chosen to have their photographs hung in the National Portrait Gallery. He has also became the youngest nonroyal to have had his portrait exhibited in the gallery.
• Equus will open at the Gielgud Theatre in February.
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Reader views (2)
I am very happy that Daniel was picked to be Alan in this play. It will show him outside the Harry Potter role which is good because I dont think he wants to be always known as the Daniel, the guy who played Harry Potter. I also don't think he wants that to be his last role. I think he will go far as an actor, he's got the talent and the ability to do it.
Congrats Dan and Good Luck.
- Victoria, Hamilton, Canada
Daniel is a gifted actor and I'm glad he was selected to play Alan, I saw another Equus' production in Canada and all I can say is that this play is not for kiddies, no because of the nudity scene (which is only for a few minutes) but because the plot of the play, which is a very complex dark psycological play.
I wish him and Richard all the luck and guys break a leg!
- Tonny, Toronto, Canada
