Fourth Monkey Ensemble is known for its unique and heavily physical, visceral approach to theatre making. All of these elements bleed through this production of Elephant Man in a new adaptation of the iconic story of the disfigured Joseph Merrick and his constant struggle to be understood in a society full of alienation and prejudice. After being under the care of a penny show ringleader, the ‘Elephant Man’ is discovered by a London surgeon who is determined to give the very best for Merrick and understand his condition as best as he can. As he begins to see a kinder and truer side of humanity, the battle of personality and appearance roars in his everyday life as the acceptance of others becomes the main theme of this tragic story.

The overall look and feel of the production is natural and slick, the period created perfectly with the costume and materials used for the set which create the backstreets of Whitechapel, the opulent gardens of a country mansion and all settings in-between without any need for difficulty or fuss. The use of a central unit for all set changes is inspired as there is no distraction from the action and flow of the narrative.

The performances of the ensemble were sharp and direct, without the need for unnecessary embellishment on any part which is refreshing for a more abstract performance such as this. The stand-out of the show is Daniel Chrisostomou’s enchanting and disturbing embodiment of Joseph Merrick. With the help of a twisted exoskeletal costume to enhance the blurred edges of his character’s deformities, an incredible amount of physical and vocal acrobatics is injected into this performance. His physicality is difficult to watch whilst also being utterly compelling. The pain of this character’s life is evident in every step. The haunting vocality of the character underscores the entire production, with the constant suggestion of pain and suffering, even when not inflicted by others. This is the world in which the Elephant Man is bound to live by his own condition and the audience are brought into this with unabashed honesty.

Perhaps with a little more spectacle this would have been a perfect tale of suffering and human indecency, however the small scale of the production, while allowing intimacy, at times feels a little restricting for key moments that could have been made huge and all-encompassing if hit harder and larger. That said, the closeness of the audience to Joseph Merrick’s life is an important and special thing which this company have captured and delivered wonderfully.

Elephant Man is playing at the Brockley Jack Studio until 21 February then on tour. For more details see the Brockley Jack Studio website.