The premiere of the theatrical performance of The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance will be presented at the Nicosia International Festival this Friday in collaboration with Satiriko Theatre and Audere Productions. Directed by Andreas Kyriakou, the performance will take place at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre on Friday, in Greek.

This is the true story of John Merrick, a severely deformed man who lived in Victorian London in the 1880s and became a symbol of human dignity. His story inspired writers, scientists and artists alike, and has been adapted for both stage and cinema in profoundly emotional ways.

This production attempts to offer a bold, contemporary reinterpretation of the iconic play, bringing timeless questions of acceptance, diversity, normalcy and compassion to the forefront.

Rather than serving as a historical re-enactment, the performance functions as a modern-day allegory: the doctors resemble influencers, while the attendees of the “freakshow” he was forced to perform in, are today’s social media era spectators.

The set and costume design adopt an aesthetic of contradictory time, blending Victorian and modern elements. Merrick’s physical deformity is suggested through the direction, the body and the lighting, rather than realistic tools while the narration unfolds in plurality, with actors shifting between roles and narrative functions.

The upcoming performance is a contemporary stage reading of an emblematic work, which brings timeless questions of normalcy, marginalisation and collective responsibility into the current day.

Kyriakou’s directorial approach does not confine itself to realistic depictions; instead, the deformity of the hero is implied through light, movement and embodied physicality, enhancing empathy without resorting to pity. He adopts a bold and exploratory theatrical language.

The Elephant Man

Satiriko Theatre presents The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance. Part of the Nicosia International Festival 2025. November 21. Nicosia Municipal Theatre, Nicosia. 8.30pm. In Greek. €10-18. www.more.com/cy-en/tickets/theater/o-anthropos-elefantas-tou-mpernarnt-pomerans