Edward Gorey

Edward Gorey was famous for his macabre stories and intricate accompanying illustrations.

Born in 1925, The Doubtful Guest, which will inspire our show, was first published in 1957. Over Gorey’s lifetime he generated a huge collection of work and when he died in 2000, he’d become an American cult icon.

Another of his most famous titles is The Gashlycrumb Tinies, a deliciously dark tale of the untimely alphabetical demise of 26 children, starting with “A is for Amy who fell down the stairs, B is for Basil assaulted by bears”.

Gorey himself was no stranger to the theatre. For a period, he was a fanatical attender of the New York City Ballet and in 1977 he designed a Broadway production of Dracula, winning a Tony Award for Best Costume Design.

His work has inspired a huge range of artists including The Tiger Lillies, whose 2003 album was entitled Gorey Stories.

For more information on Edward Gorey, why not visit the website of the Edward Gorey House in Cape Cod.