The Trial, Metamorphosis, In the Penal Colony - Three Theatre Adaptations from Franz Kafka - Poche

Steven Berkoff is an actor and theatre director as well as a playwright. After studying drama in London and mime in Paris he acted for several years in traditional British theatre. In the Penal Colony, his first professional production, was performed at London's experimental theatre, the Arts Lab, Drury Lane in 1968. His adaptation of Metamorphosis, in which he played the part of Gregor, was first seen at the Round House in 1969.
The Trial was first presented at the Oval House in 1970. Steven Berkoff has rewritten Agamemnon (after Aeschylus) and The Fall of the House of Usher (from Edgar Allan Poe). His first original play was East (1975) which won critical acclaim for its originality and eclectic concoction of Elizabethan verse and punk poetry with Cockney slang. His other work for the stage includes Greek, a parody of the Oedipus myth ; West, the story of Beowulf written in the Cockney idiom as a sequel to East ; Decadence ; Harry's Christmas ; Kvetch ; Acapulco ; Sink the Belgrano ; and Massage.
As a director Steven Berkoff fuses all the elements of drama together in a whole experience. His work is earthy, physical, musical and surreal, combining movement and mime with text to achieve a high dramatic intensity.