Broadway-Bound Equus to Close at the Gielgud June 9

The West End revival of Equus, currently running at the Gielgud Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, will close June 9, 2007. According to Whatsonstage.com, stars Daniel Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths, famous for their roles in the Harry Potter movies, will reprise their performances for a Broadway production, scheduled for summer 2008.

An Australian production will be presented after the play transfers to Broadway. In the UK, Equus will play a nationwide tour, with "Coronation Street" star Richard Fleeshman taking over from Radcliffe as Alan Strang, the disturbed 17-year-old who blinds horses.

Peter Shaffer's classic play follows psychiatrist Martin Dysart (Tony Award-winner Griffiths) as he tries to solve the problem quiet, seemingly normal 17-year-old Alan Strang (Radcliffe, in his West End stage debut) who has blinded six horses with a hoof pick. This production is the first major revival of Equus since it was originally presented by The National Theatre at the Old Vic in 1973, directed by John Dexter and starring Alec McCowen as Dysart and Peter Firth as Strang. Equus won the 1975 Tony Award for 'Best Play,' and was made into a film in 1977, starring Richard Burton.The Gielgud production is directed by Thea Sharrock (Director, West End's Heroes) and designed by Equus' original designer John Napier. The show is produced by David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers, and co-stars Will Kemp, Jenny Agutter, Gabrielle Ready, Jonathan Cullen (I) and Joanna Christie. No further productions have yet been announced for the Gielgud.Performance times at the Gielgud Theatre are Mondays-Saturdays at 7:30pm, with Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2:30pm. Tickets can be purchased from the Gielgud Theatre Box Office by calling 0870 950 0915 or online at www.equustheplay.com. Photo of Daniel Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths by Retna Ltd.