The Elephant Man

The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance. Tony award winning play. Quoted from the programme notes of the Baxter run in 1998: 'Based on a true story, the play recounts the complex tale of John Merrick, an intelligent, sensitive man living in Victoria London whose body was severely malformed by a congenital disorder. This deeply moving yet humorous play highlights man's ability to improve and rise above his circumstances. '

The original text
First performed by the Foco Novo Theatre Troupe, England 1977.

Performance history in South Africa
1998: First produced in South Africa by the Baxter Theatre in association with the Standard Bank National Arts Festival in July, 1998, directed by Roy Sargeant, set and lighting design by Brian Collins and featuring Kevin Smith, Terry Norton, André Jacobs with Blaise Koch, Mary Dreyer, Nazli George, Paul du Toit, Peter Krummeck, Adam Pike, Alfred Rietman. Costume design by Phyllis Midlane.