ElephantMan 1min Trailer

The Elephant Man devised & performed by Saul Jaffe, written & directed by Mary Swan, produced by Proteus Theatre Company. The Elephant Man explores the current obsessions with beauty, celebrity and body image. Proteus have fused together new circus, multimedia and physical theatre into an innovative theatre experience.

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The Elephant Man is the moving, poetic and ultimately uplifting story of the life of John Merrick. We have created a version for the 21st century, a highly physical, one-man tour-de-force, which explores the journey of this remarkable man, from an object of curiosity and social revulsion to celebrity. His life and tragic destiny is as relevant today in our image obsessed culture as it ever was.
Coincidentally, the condition that caused Merricks fame and subsequent sad downfall is now understood to be Proteus Syndrome,¬ a little understood and extraordinarily rare non hereditary genetic defect, affecting approximately 200 people worldwide, causing organs, body parts or bones to grow uncontrollably. Proteus worked with the separate Proteus Syndrome Foundation to research the show, a global foundation funding research into this condition.

The show had been created and toured initially in 2007, but demand for a re-tour of The Elephant Man had been building, providing the company with an opportunity to take the play into mid-scale venues in repertoire with Below Zero, e.g. The Haymarket, Basingstoke, and Greenwich Theatre in London, and enabling theatres to book a double bill and to tour to festivals. The production also played at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2008, the aim of which was to increase the companys profile and to see if there was a possibility of touring the piece internationally. The run was highly successful, resulting in three five star reviews and the distinction of being Critics Choice for the British Theatre Guide, interest from festivals in Dubai and Australia and an invitation to take the piece to New York in 2009 for the Brits Off Broadway Festival.

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[Bealocwealm]

Ouu, this is one I haven't heard of, I'd like to see it. Innit a bit ironic, though, that it's performed by Proteus Theatre Co?

[lon1981]

I've seen this show, it is fantastic - if they ever tour it again go and see it!

[dogcyrus]

Cant wait to see a live performance. Looks as tho' it should be in the West End. Brilliant!