The Elephant Man is a play by Bernard Pomerance. Originally co-produced by Hampstead Theatre under Artistic Director Michael Rudman and Foco Novo under Roland Rees, the play premiered at Nuffield Studio, Lancaster, 24 October 1977 and transferred to Hampstead the following month, opening in London 7 November 1977. Rees directed. The play was remounted in 1980 with Rees directing and some of the original cast reprising their roles at the National Theatre. The Elephant Man began its New York career off-Broadway at The Theatre of St. Peter's, moving to Broadway at the Booth Theatre in 1979, produced by Richmond Crinkley and Nelle Nugent and directed by Jack Hofsiss. David Bowie took over the lead as Merrick for several months in late 1980. The play closed in 1981 after eight previews and 916 regular performances, with revivals in 2002 and 2014.
The story is based on the life of Joseph Merrick, referred to in the script as John Merrick, who lived in Victorian London and is known for the extreme deformity of his body. The lead role of Merrick was originated by David Schofield, in a definitive performance. Subsequent productions starred actors including Philip Anglim, David Bowie, Mark Hamill, Bruce Davison, and Bradley Cooper.
Contents
Plot
The Elephant Man opens with Frederick Treves, an up-and-coming surgeon, meeting his new employer Francis Carr-Gomm, the administrator of the London Hospital.
Ross, the manager of a freak show, invites a crowd on Whitechapel Road to come view John Merrick, the Elephant Man. Treves happens upon the freak show and is intrigued by Merrick's disorder. He insists that he must study Merrick further; Ross agrees, for a fee. Ross then gives a lecture on Merrick's anatomy, making Merrick stand on display while Treves describes his condition to the audience.
The freak show travels to Brussels after being driven out of London by the police. Merrick tries to converse with three freak show "pinheads", or people suffering from microcephaly and mental retardation. The "pinheads" go onstage to sing "We Are the Queens of the Congo", but the police will not allow Merrick to perform, because they consider his condition "indecent". Ross decides that Merrick is more trouble than he is worth, steals his savings, and sends him back to London.
When Merrick arrives in London, his appearance incites a crowd to riot. The train's conductor and a policeman are able to fetch Treves to calm the situation. Treves takes Merrick to the London Hospital and interviews a woman, Nurse Sandwich, for the position of Merrick's caretaker. Sandwich assures Treves that she has cared for lepers in Africa and is quite prepared for anything. However, when she sees Merrick taking a bath, she bolts from the room and refuses to take the job.
Bishop How visits Merrick and declares him a "true Christian in the rough". He tells Treves he would like to educate Merrick in religion. Carr-Gomm argues with Bishop How about the importance of science versus the importance of religion. Carr-Gomm announces that, due to a letter he had printed in The Times, the people of London have donated enough money to allow Merrick to live at the hospital for life. Treves tells Gomm that he is glad Merrick now has a place where he can stay without being stared at, and is determined that Merrick should lead a normal life.
When two attendants, Will and Snork, are caught peeking into Merrick's room, Will is fired and Snork is given a severe warning. Treves believes that it is important to enforce these rules, but Merrick worries what will happen to Will and his family. Merrick grew up in the workhouses, and wishes that no one had to suffer that fate. Treves says that it is just the way things are.
Original Cast, Hampstead Theatre, London, 1977
Source:
David Schofield as John Merrick
David Allister as Dr Treves, Belgian Policeman
Arthur Blake as Bishop Walsham Howe, Ross, Snork
William Hoyland as Francis Carr-Gomm
Pat Arrowsmith as Cellist
Jennie Stoller as Countess, Mrs Kendal, Pinhead
Judy Bridgland as Duchess, Princess Alexandra, Jelly Willow, Nurse Sandwich, Pinhead
Ken Drury, England Policeman, Lord John, Manager of Pinheads, Porter, Willow
Broadway production, New York, 1979
Source:
Philip Anglim as John Merrick
JoAnne Belanger as Orderly (understudy), Princess Alexandra (understudy), Pinhead (understudy), Countess (understudy), Miss Sandwich (understudy)
Richard Clarke as Francis Carr-Gomm, Conductor
Kevin Conway as Frederick Treves, Belgian Policeman
Dennis Creaghan as Orderly, London Policeman (understudy), Lord John (understudy), Will (understudy), Earl (understudy), Pinhead Manager (understudy)
Michael Goldschlager as Cellist (standby)
Cordis Heard as Miss Sandwich, Princess Alexandra, Pinhead, Countess, Mrs. Kendal (understudy)
David Heiss as Cellist
I. M. Hobson as Bishop Walsham How, Ross, Snork
John Neville-Andrews as Pinhead Manager, London Policeman, Lord John, Will, Earl, Frederick Treves (understudy), Belgian Policeman (understudy)
Carole Shelley as Pinhead, Mrs. Kendal
Jack Wetherall as John Merrick (standby)
National Theatre, London, 1980
The Hampstead production was remounted on the Lyttelton stage with some members of the original cast including David Schofield, Arthur Blake, and Jennie Stoller reprising their roles. Treves was played by Peter McEnery followed by Nicky Henson. Roland Rees directed again. The run was just under a year. Schofield was nominated for an Olivier Award as Actor of the Year in a New Play.
2002 revival, New York
A revival of the production was staged at the Royale Theatre on Broadway in April 2002, running for 57 performances, and closed on 2 June 2002. It was directed by Sean Mathias and starred Billy Crudup, Rupert Graves and Kate Burton in the leading roles and James Riordan and Jack Gilpin portraying several supporting roles each. Crudup (Best Actor in a Play) and Burton (Best Featured Actress in a Play) each received nominations at the 56th Tony Awards.
2014–15 revival, New York and London
A 2014 revival, starring Bradley Cooper, Patricia Clarkson, and Alessandro Nivola, opened at the Booth Theatre on 7 December for a 13-week engagement (through 15 February 2015). Cooper, who appeared as Merrick in a revival at the 2012 Williamstown Theatre Festival, reprised his role. Scott Ellis, who directed the Williamstown production, also staged the Broadway return. In May 2015, the production, again starring Cooper, Clarkson, and Nivola, opened at London's Theatre Royal Haymarket for a limited 12-week run from 19 May until 8 August.
Adaptations
The play was adapted for television by Steve Lawson and broadcast in 1982 on ABC. Philip Anglim reprised his Broadway performance and Hofsiss returned to direct. At the 34th Primetime Emmy Awards, the production was nominated for Outstanding Drama Special, while Anglim was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special and Penny Fuller, for her performance as Mrs. Kendal, won for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special.
A radio drama adaptation by the BBC World Service was broadcast in 1988. It was directed by David Hitchenson and starred Gerard Murphy as John Merrick the elephant man; Jeremy Clyde as Frederick Treves the doctor; Anna Massey as actress Mrs. Kendal.
In May 2025, a new feature film adaptation of the play was announced, with filming scheduled to begin in spring 2026. Written by playwright Bernard Pomerance's son Moby Pomerance, the film will star Adam Pearson as Joseph Merrick. Pearson will be the first disabled actor to play this role.
Awards and nominations
Off-Broadway Production (1979)
The first New York City production was off-Broadway, from January to March 1979 (73 shows). It transferred to Broadway in April 1979.
Original Broadway Production (1979)
Honor
1979 Selection, The Burns Mantle Theater Yearbook, The Best Plays of 1978-1979