THE newly formed Fourth Monkey Ensemble present a unique production of Elephant Man at The Courtyard next week. Written by the company's artistic director Steven Green, the piece has received rave reviews and numerous award nominations, including the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression award, when it premiered with a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2012.

Steven took time out to answer a few questions about what inspired him and how The Elephant Man is being received.

How has the tour been going so far?

Great, thank you! Sell outs at a number of venues along the way and a few award nominations to boot which has been incredibly humbling. We’re looking to finishing the tour and indeed coming to Hereford which will be a first for the company.

Why did you want to revisit the story of the Elephant Man after it’s already been covered by a very successful film?

It’s an amazing story of human strength and cruelty in one and the film, although wonderful, epic and a work of cinematic genius it does glamorise the relationships and perhaps avoids the truths of Treve's relationship with Joseph Merrick in particular. It’s a human story and they never get tired or lose relevance and this one is oddly yet heartbreakingly hopeful which is a rarity.

This is your own interpretation of the story, not the script used in the David Lynch film and the original play which was written by Bernard Pomerance. How is your take on the story different, and did you watch the film again before or after writing your own version??

I think it's very different to be honest, the focal point of the play is bigger than Joseph’s life and it certainly isn’t a star vehicle piece, it’s an ensemble piece - no need for Bradley Cooper here," he says referring to the production currently running on Broadway.

"In all seriousness, it explores the human condition in a different and allegorical way, which I don’t think the David Lynch film necessarily does and the Pomerance version certainly doesn't…the film was an inspiration as a child but I haven’t seen it in over 25 years but I must confess it scarred me as a young man and is responsible for my fascination with Joseph as an adult.

Bradley Cooper has recently received a lot of publicity in the Broadway production of Pomerance’s Elephant Man and will shortly be bringing it to the West End. Has that been an advantage or a disadvantage to the Fourth Monkey touring version?

This is a bigger question in many ways…it represents all that is disappointing about the status quo in the industry and in particular the West End. It has received a great deal of press absolutely for a celebrity actor ‘doing his turn’ gurning and contorting his body for critical acclaim.

He has ‘embodied' the Elephant Man, but in the most profound and ironic sense, as Bradley Cooper is now himself the freak-show with fans rushing to get a ticket to see Bradley in his underwear, up close and personal… a rather bizarre parallel. Whatever his motivation for undertaking the role, I find something unnerving and discomforting about it to, the whole thing lacking in integrity. I wouldn’t trade my Joseph Merrick for anyone, no-one knows his name and no-one is rushing to see him in his underwear but that’s just the way we like it!

Has Bradley’s production benefitted or hindered us? I don’t honestly know, but I doubt either,

In conclusion, Steven adds that he would urge people to come and see the show. "We sincerely hope you enjoy our take on a truly remarkable story. It’s not an easy watch, but neither should it be, it makes us all look in the mirror and that can never be a bad thing."