2009 State Drama Company

Season One - The Elephant Man

About the play

The Elephant Man is based on the life of John Merrick, who lived in London during the latter part of the nineteenth century. A horribly deformed young man, who had been a freak show attraction in travelling sideshows, is found abandoned and helpless and is admitted for observation to Whitechapel, a prestigious London hospital. Under the care of a famous young doctor, who educates him and introduces him to London society, Merrick changes from a sensational object of pity to the urbane and witty favourite of the aristocracy and literati. However his belief that he can become a man like any other is a dream never realized.

 

About the playwright

Bernard Pomerance is an American playwright born and raised in New York City. While a number of his plays have been produced in London, The Elephant Man is his first major American production. During its opening season, The Elephant Man won all the major drama awards, including three Tonys, three Obies, the Drama Desk Award, and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award.

 

"An enthralling and luminous play. Haunting, splendid..."

Richard Elder, The New York Times

 

"The Elephant Man is a moving drama. Lofted on poetic wings, it nests in the human heart."

T. E. Kalem, Time Magazine

 

"Ravishing theatre. Bernard Pomerance's writing is beautifully realized in all respects."

Douglas Watt, New York Daily News

 

"The Elephant Man is great. A giant of a play. Wonderful, moving and purely theatrical."

Clive Barnes, New York Post

 

 

Ticketing

Tickets for the PACT Theatre (Erskineville) season of The Elephant Man go on sale Monday 11 May 2009. The Season will comprise five performances from Thursday 30 July to Saturday 1 August 2009 inclusive.  Tickets are available through the Arts Unit.  Please use the link below to download a Ticket Order Form.

 

Drama Company Season One - The Elephant Man - Ticket Order Form [.pdf 31 KB]

 

Further enquiries concerning performances by the 2009 NSW Public Schools State Drama Ensembles should be directed to Paul Viles, Drama Coordinator at The Arts Unit on 02 8512 1175.