The Elephant Man (1984)

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Poster by Poster Designer

by Bernard Pomerance

Directed by Jill Clark

Performances: Sun 15th – & Tues 17th - Sat 21st April 1984, Bell Theatre


Introduction

From the SLTC programme, 1984.

"The Elephant Man" was produced with great critical acclaim in London (at Hampstead Theatre Club and at the National) in the mid-1970s and later became a smash hit on Broadway in 1979. Later, Merrick's story was made into a film.

Joseph Merrick was a real person. He was born of a poor family in Leicester in 1862. During his childhood he developed a rare disease called neurofibromatosis or von Recklinhausen's disease. It was and is incurable and in Merrick's case developed rapidly. He died in 1890 aged 28. The major part of his life was spent as a freak, firstly in a sideshow in the Whitechapel Road and secondly as a different kind of freak, visited by smart society. Today his skeleton, several of his organs and a plaster cast of his body are in the museum of the London Hospital. It is ironic that, even in death, he is still on show.

Cast


Crew

Reviews

Some review quotes go here


Gallery

Reminiscences and Anecdotes

Members are encouraged to write about their experiences of working on or seeing this production. Please leave your name. Anonymous entries may be deleted.

See Also

References

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External Links