Synopsis
Gormenghast
John Constable from Mervyn Peake
Published by Oberon
8 Male 5 Female
Steerpike, the renegade kitchen-boy who seduces and murders his way up the social ladder
And Titus Groan, heir to Gormenghast, who comes to threaten its very existence
John Constable famously "pulled off the impossible" (The Times) with his stage adaptation of Mervyn Peake's legendary Gormenghast trilogy
Commissioned and produced by the David Glass Ensemble, this gruesome, gothic drama has since become a landmark in the history of adaptation for the stage
"A gloriously impossible realisation of Mervyn Peake's soaring flight of fancy" ~ Guardian
Characters ...
Chorus, the voices of Gormenghast
Countess, Gertrude, Countess of Groan; mother of Titus
Barquentine, master of ritual
Sepulchrave, 76th Earl of Groan, father of Titus
Dr Prunesquallor, Physician to the House of Groan
Fuchsia, Titus' elder sister
Cora & Clarice, Sepulchrave's sisters; Titus' twin aunts
Flay, ancient retainer to the House of Groan
Swelter, the cook
Steerpike, a kitchen boy
Titus, 77th Earl of Groan; heir to Gormenghast
The Thing, an outcast wild child
The Ensemble, Grey Scrubbers, Servants, Guards
F3 or 5 (1 girl) M8. Chorus. Various simple settings