Elephant spotted in Stratford-upon-Avon!

Photo credit: Ellie Kurttz

Residents of Stratford-upon-Avon received a jumbo surprise this week with sightings of a fully-grown, female African elephant entering the Royal Shakespeare Theatre reported across the otherwise peaceful market town.

The nine-foot elephant – whose name and place of origin are, as yet, unknown – was seen entering the Royal Shakespeare Theatre via its scene dock doors on Tuesday 12 October, with further sightings rumoured throughout the theatre building for much of the week.

The perplexed pachyderm is believed to belong to the Royal Shakespeare Company’s brand new musical The Magician’s Elephant, which opens to the public from Monday 18 October.

News of the elephant’s arrival in the town has prompted an explosion of interest from visitors, with reports of families packing their trunks from miles around to get a glimpse of the elusive elephant in action this winter.

Residents have been advised to remain vigilant and report any further sightings to the RSC via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using the #MagiciansElephant

The Magician’s Elephant is a new musical by Nancy Harris (book/lyrics) and Marc Teitler (music/lyrics), adapted from Kate DiCamillo's prize-winning novel, directed by Sarah Tipple and designed by Colin Richmond.

Baltese is a town where nothing extraordinary ever happens. Recovering from a recent war, it’s a lonely place, where young Peter lives a harsh life.

Then one day, a magician conjures an elephant from the sky. The creature’s appearance sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that it changes Baltese forever.

Peter is catapulted into the quest of his life, overturning everything he ever thought he knew, and discovering that happiness can come from the most unexpected places.

This brand new musical for all the family reminds us all that even the impossible can be possible when we open our eyes and hearts to those around us.

The production will feature lighting by Oliver Fenwick. musical supervision and direction by Tom Brady, orchestrations by Sarah Travis and Marc Teitler, vocal arrangements by Tom Brady and Marc Teitler, sound by Paul Groothuis, puppetry direction by Mervyn Millar, puppetry design by Mervyn Millar and Tracy Waller, magic consultancy by John Bulleid, and video by Douglas O’Connell.

For more information and to book tickets, please click here.