The RSC announces full casting for THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT
Photo credit: Sam Allard
Full casting has been announced for the upcoming production of Nancy Harris and Marc Teitler’s new musical The Magician’s Elephant, based on the novel by prize-winning author Kate DiCamillo, which will make its world premiere at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from 14 October 2021 to 1 January 2022.
The cast is led by actor, writer and storyteller Renu Arora, who will play the role of Madame LaVaughn. LaVaughn finds herself paralyzed after a magician conjures an elephant who falls through the roof of an opera house, crushing her legs. She was left with life-changing injuries after a near-death experience in 2017, which changed the way she works as an artist. Arora created audio work during lockdown, inspired by the parallels between the pandemic and her accident. It was broadcast by BBC Sounds and precedes the release of The Burgundy Book, a 12-part arts podcast, in Spring 2022.
Amy Booth-Steel joins the cast as The Narrator, with Miriam Nyarko taking on the role of Adele.
Lauren Jones and Chrystine Symone also join the compnay as Lisette and Lamplighter respectively, alongside the previously announced cast: Sharif Afifi (Milliner), Marc Antolin (Leo Matienne), Alison Arnopp (Baker), Hannah Brown (Swing), Keisha Amponsa Banson (Gloria Matienne), Michael Carolan (Swing), Lucca Chadwick-Patel (Fishmonger), Stephen John Davis (Doctor), Zoe Halliday (The Elephant), Sam Harrison (Count Quintet), Forbes Masson (Police Chief), Wela Mbusi (The Elephant), Mark Meadows (Vilna Lutz), Suzanne Nixon (The Elephant), Alastair Parker (Magician), Wendy Somerville (Mrs Griswald) Summer Strallen (Countess Quintet) and Mandi Symonds (Sister Marie) and Jack Wolfe (Peter Duchene).
The production marks the re-opening of The Royal Shakespeare Theatre on its 60th Anniversary. It tells the story of the town of Baltese, specifically of orphan, Peter Augustus Duchene, who finds himself on the journey of a lifetime after a magician conjures an elephant from the sky – the same elephant that paralyses Madame LaVaughn.
Directing the production will be Sarah Tipple, with design by Colin Richmond, 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, with puppetry design by Millar and Tracy Waller.
For more information and to book tickets, please click here.
