Equus and Amadeus playwright Peter Shaffer dies aged 90

The playwright Sir Peter Shaffer, whose critical and popular successes in the West End and Broadway included Equus, Amadeus and The Royal Hunt of the Sun, has died in Ireland aged 90.

His agent, Rupert Lord, said: “He was simply at the end of his life but delighted to have been able to celebrate his 90th birthday with friends and then, I think, decided it was time.”

Sir Peter “passed away peacefully” at 5:30am on 6 June at a hospice in County Cork with his niece Cressida at his side, a statement from his agent said. It described him as “one of the true greats of British theatre”, “a wonderful friend, wickedly funny man and sparkling raconteur” who also had a love of “music, painting and architecture”.

The National Theatre, which staged the world premieres of many of Shaffer’s plays and was already planning its first revival of Amadeus since it opened at the theatre in 1979, described him as “an extraordinary writer”.

Its director, Rufus Norris, said: “Peter Shaffer was one of the great writers of his generation and the National Theatre was enormously lucky to have had such a fruitful and creative relationship with him. The plays he leaves behind are an enduring legacy.”

Sir Peter wrote more than 18 plays including Amadeus, a haunting psychological drama about the relationship between Mozart and his less gifted admirer and bitter rival composer, Salieri, that became a hugely successful Hollywood film. The adaptation won eight Oscars in 1985, including best film and a screenwriting award for Shaffer. It was revived in 2014 to re-open the Chichester Festival theatre, another venue closely associated with his work.

View image in fullscreen

Equus, Shaffer’s 1973 play about a psychiatrist’s attempt to treat a young man obsessively fascinated with horses, was another major stage hit – it won a Tony award in 1975 and was revived in 2007 with Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe in his first big theatre role, which became a successful film.

Others who paid tribute to him included actor Samuel West, who said on Twitter: “Amadeus. Paul Scofield as Salieri. Writing of such depth and beauty. Thank you, Peter Shaffer.”

Shaffer was born in Liverpool, the twin of Anthony, also a highly successful author and playwright who was best known for the stage play and film Sleuth, who died in 2001.

Shaffer’s 1964 The Royal Hunt of the Sun, was the first premiere of a new play ever produced by the infant National Theatre company, before it even had its own theatre. The play, about the conquest of Peru by the Spanish, had already been rejected by the RSC and the Royal Court. It was first seen at Chichester and then at the Old Vic, filmed in 1969, and was revived by Sir Trevor Nunn in 2006.

Shaffer’s next play at the National, Black Comedy in 1965, had the dream cast of Maggie Smith, Derek Jacobi and Albert Finney.

The playwright was awarded the CBE in 1987 and knighted in 2001.

Shaffer only became seriously ill last week. Lord said that he had been particularly happy about the revival of Amadeus, due on the National stage in October. “Peter was happiest that Amadeus was to be seen again on the stage for which it was written and had met and worked with [director] Michael Longhurst, loved his ideas and had been very excited at the prospect of Lucian Msamati playing Salieri.”

Shaffer is survived by his brother Brian, nephews Milo and Mark and nieces Cressida and Claudia. His agent said his close family and friends wanted to thank the staff who “cared for him so well” at Bon Secours hospital and Marymount hospice.