Bernard Pomerance was born and raised in New York City and educated at the University of Chicago; he moved to London in 1968. 

 

His first play, HIGH IN VIETNAM, HOT DAMN was performed at the Interaction Almost Free Theatre in 1972 and directed by Roland Rees. Along with Rees and David Aukin, Bernard helped to found the theatre company FOCO NOVO in 1972. The name was taken from Pomerance’s play of the same title, the company’s inaugural production (Oval House, 1972). Others include SOMEONE ELSE IS STILL SOMEONE (Bush Theatre, 1974), MELONS (RSC 1985-6) and an adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s A MAN’S A MAN (Hampstead Theatre, 1975). His best known play THE ELEPHANT MAN premièred at Hampstead Theatre in 1977.  It was performed in repertory at Britain’s National Theatre and several times off and on Broadway. For THE ELEPHANT MAN, Bernard Pomerance won a Tony Award, the New York Drama Critics’ Award, an Obie Award, a Drama Desk Award, and the outer Critics’ Circle Award. Of the many revivals worldwide this play has enjoyed, the most recent, directed by Scott Ellis and starring Bradley Cooper, transferred to Broadway from Williamstown in 2014 to great acclaim. The production subsequently transferred to the West End in 2015 and garnered