Toby Stephens will lead the company of the Menier Chocolate Factory’s major new revival of Peter Shaffer’s masterpiece, Equus. In a significant co-production with Theatre Royal Bath, Stephens is set to play the pivotal role of psychiatrist Dr. Martin Dysart. Public booking for this highly anticipated production officially opens today, marking a key addition to the London summer theatrical season.
The production begins its residency at the Menier Chocolate Factory with preview performances starting on 8 May 2026. The official press night is scheduled for 18 May, with the London run continuing through 27 June. Following its time at the Menier, the production will transfer to the Theatre Royal Bath for a strictly limited engagement running from 13 July to 25 July 2026.
Directed by Lindsay Posner, this revival marks a return to the Menier for both the director and Stephens. Posner, whose recent credits include the acclaimed West End transfer of A View from the Bridge, leads a creative team that includes set and costume designer Paul Farnsworth and lighting designer Paul Pyant. Movement director James Cousins will oversee the physical staging essential to Shaffer’s psychological thriller.
Toby Stephens brings an extensive stage pedigree to the role of Dysart, with a career spanning the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, and the Old Vic. While well-known for screen roles in Black Sails and Lost in Space, his recent stage work includes Oslo and A Day in the Death of Joe Egg. This new role sees him tackling Shaffer's complex narrative regarding a surgeon's struggle to understand a young patient's disturbing act of violence.
The Menier Chocolate Factory remains a busy hub this season, with this announcement arriving alongside their current productions of The Holy Rosenbergs and The Producers. Fans are encouraged to secure tickets early for the Equus summer dates, as full casting for the remainder of the company is expected to be announced shortly.
