The Elephant Man (1984)
Directed by Jill Clark
Performances: Sun 15th – & Tues 17th - Sat 21st April 1984, Bell Theatre
Contents
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
- Frederick Treves - Malcolm Archer
- Carr Gomm - John Lyne
- Ross - John Harris
- John Merrick - Fred Ridgeway
- Pinheads - Jo Archer, Meg Tombs, Sue Thompson
- Belgian Policeman, London Policeman & Snork - Martin Leach
- Pinhead Manger, Lord John & Porter - Harry Sanders
- Conductor & Bishop Walsham How - Michael Meldrum
- Mrs Kendall - Eileen Bicarregui
- Duchess, Countess & Nurse Sandwich - Brenda Meldrum
Crew
- Production Assistant - Jean Warboyes
- Stage Manager - Sonia Burke
- Assistant Stage Managers - Jonathon Silver, Iris Lenny, Sue Marshall & Richard Wood
- Lighting Design - Stephen Holroyd
- Lighting Operator - Dillon
- Sound - Stephen Smith
- Set Designers - Alan Buckman & Jill Clark
- Set Construction - Ray Seaton
- Set Builders - Edward Clark, Bob Marshall, Jim Doyle & Canice McAuliffe
- Set Painters - Jill Clark, Sonia Burke & Sue Marshall
- Wardrobe Mistress - Pam Lyne
- Properties - Iris Lenny
- Prompt - Christine Page
- Ladies costumes designed and made - Alan Buckman
- Original Music - David Brett
- Musical Advisor - Lynn Jenner
- Church model Builder - Alf Vaal
- Slides lent by Foco Novo Theatre Company
- Materials for set supplied by New Regency
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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