ELEPHANT MAN to Play Marlowe Studio, Canterbury

INSPIRED by the iconic David Lynch film and following a critically-acclaimed launch at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Elephant Man comes to Canterbury later this month.

Abandoned as a child, horribly deformed Joseph Merrick makes a living as a freak show attraction. He is rescued by a surgeon from the London Hospital, but finds that his new status as a medical marvel continues to expose him to the morbid gaze of the curious. As Merrick's story unfolds and he travels towards acceptance and redemption, the play asks the question: whose behaviour is more grotesque - the Elephant Man's or those who claim to have his best interests at heart?

Daniel Chrisostomou, who created the original at the Edinburgh Fringe to great critical acclaim, again appears in the lead role as Merrick. ("An actor who will take the world by storm one day" - A Younger Theatre).

The piece has been adapted and directed by Fourth Monkey Artistic Director Steven Green (Marlowe450). It premiered with a sell-out run at the Fringe, where it received rave reviews and a nomination for an Amnesty International Freedom Of Expression Award.

Set in the Victorian era, it is a play for five actors. Rather than resorting to prosthetics, a metal frame surrounding Merrick's head serves to depict his deformity and illustrate the emotional distance between him and the other characters. Designer Zahra Mansouri has received multiple awards for her work.

Elephant Man, which is suitable for those aged 14 and over, is at The Marlowe Studio at 8pm on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 February. Tickets, priced £12 (concessions available; booking fee applies) are from the Box Office on 01227 787787 or marlowetheatre.com.