Interview With Rhett Stevens, Director Of Equus

Firstly, we were interested in his involvement and why stage an English Language Play in Budapest? He explained “EQUUS is just the start of an output of plays for ‘Equus Productions’. I want to put on other shows because I see there is a demand for professionally produced English theatre performed by not only English but Hungarian and Native English speaking Actors here in Budapest”.

Rhett (49) has been a Budapest resident for over 11 years. Born in Edinburgh, he Graduated in Drama at Birmingham School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art and worked on many stage productions for the English Shakespeare Company and with the English Theatre Company in Vienna.
He brought his experience to Budapest with amongst others a production of Sherlock Holmes, in which he played Sherlock.

From Sherlock to Equus, two quite different pieces? Rhett, “It was a play I’d always wanted to do and after a conversation with an actor friend last Christmas the idea gained momentum. I started to recruit around me a support crew and advertised for Actors. We attracted a surprisingly high response, as the fame of this play and the strength of the story is an actors dream. We cast from professionals, semi-pros and starters.
 
I didn’t want to cast solely English actors, so we cast regardless of nationality. Equus Productions, is an international group of people. Hungarians make up half of the team; Magyars are not short of passion and the strength of the dialogue comes over. The fervour of Act Two could be heard beyond the theatre door I was told.”

Were you surprised to be pulled up for the applause? Rhett, “Yes to be honest but we’ve been in intense rehearsals and the cast needed to have an ensemble spirit which we achieved, so I was flattered. Hopefully the rest of the performances will go as well. He continued, “This is a gritty story, which is powerful enough without elaborate effects, six of the nine-strong cast, double-up as the horses, who have their eyes gouged out.”

What’s the essence of this drama? Rhett, “Our website explains the basic story  but I’d say it was a ‘Mystery’ that is unravelled by a psychiatrist rather than a detective. The subject is challenging and as live theatre goes it’s difficult to forget.
We’re a small production company; we chose an intimate venue that brings the performance closer to the audience, so they feel the emotions. That’s the draw of theatre, especially this play and the plays we intend to stage in future.”

Rhett Stevens, Director of Equus