Soundstage Events: The Elephant Man

Three years after creating the dark brilliance that is Eraserhead, director David Lynch helmed The Elephant Man; based on the life of Joseph Merrick, an unfortunate man burdened with gross deformity in the Victorian age. Despite mirroring the stylistic qualities of his first film with elements of industrial environment and being shot on black and white film, the story is surprisingly linear and almost too sentimental. John Hurt and Anthony Hopkins’ performances are heightened by the attention to production, sound and script, making it worthy of the various Oscar and Bafta nominations both cast and crew received.

This performance was followed by an enlightening Q&A with Stuart Craig, the production designer and Simon Treves, the great-great nephew of Frederick Treves, the London surgeon (played by Hopkins in the film) who took John Merrick into care after discovering him at a travelling freak show. The audience were able to learn more about the production, Lynch’s attempts to do John Hurt’s make-up and the more personable and real-life story behind The Elephant Man.

Dukes At Komedia, Sunday 9 June

Rating:

Holly Cozens