Rita Carpenter reviews Fourways' performance of Equus at the Lancaster Arts Centre, High Wycombe. She writes:

Wow, Fourways have done it again. You could have heard a pin drop in the auditorium with this spell-binding production.

Written by Peter Shaffer, this play tells of a psychiatrist, superbly played by Mark Oldknow, attempting to treat a young man, impressively played by Alfie Hurst, who is deeply disturbed and whose world is disturbing and yet a fascinating place.

Never known to shy away from a difficult subject, Fourways staged a winner with this play.

It was brilliantly directed by Rhydian Hill who has proved himself equally talented at both directing and acting.

The innovative and cleverly crafted set gave the feeling of a stable but with almost an air of sanctity for the boy. 

As the story unfolds the audience are made aware of the malign influence over the boy from his over religious mother and controlling father well played by stalwart Peggy Chamberlen and Roger Saper respectively.

Emily Sendall was appealing as the love interest and it is good to see Annie Hill still treading the boards in her role as the nurse. 

Becky Youens was convincing as the magistrate and Haydn Davies was the understandably disgruntled owner of the horses. 

In a stylised production, the depiction of the horses was fantastic and when the boy road the horse the sensational lighting casting shadows of horse and rider throughout the auditorium was a master stroke drawing the audience into the action. 

Dark, compelling, powerful and dramatic this was equal to anything I have seen on the professional stage.

Fourways is a force to be reckoned with and every production never fails to impress.