The Elephant and Castle
This has occupied my attention in the latter part of 2013 and I’m wanting to explore the creative links between the theatrical tradition of melodrama and what can loosely be termed as the “horror” genre in film.
My focal point is the Elephant and Castle Theatre, now the Coronet Club.This was opened in 1872 and became known for its melodramas (and pantomimes).
I’m intrigued by Marie Henderson, a celebrated actress and manager, who ran the theatre, with her husband from 1875-1880. She succumbed to syphilis and died in Bedlam hospital; A tragic Victorian death straight out of Dickens.
The actor Tod Slaughter, was also closely associated with the theatre from 1925-28 and is my direct link between the worlds of melodrama and horror, theatre and film. Maria Marten and Sweeney Todd are just two of his well known stage and film incarnations.
I’m bringing this project up to date, well, up to the flared and safari suited 1970s. This is where I arrived, so to speak, as my first cinema going dates from this period as a teen transgressing his way through 15 and 18 certification.
I can visualise the ABC cinema at the Elephant and Castle in the 70’s, the screen image flickering in resonance to the lost voices of Henderson and Slaughter. Now playing a mixture of sex and horror exploitation films, quite possibly directed by Pete Walker: Frightmare, House of Mortal Sin or House of Whipcord.
Recently Marcus Coates has used the local area and club space to good effect in his Ritual for the Elephant and Castle.
I’ve connected with the Melodrama Research Group at the University of Kent in order to pursue my research and development.
