The Vanishing Elephant
Embark on an incredible journey as spell-binding puppetry, music and theatre bring to life the magical story of friendship between an elephant and a boy.
Join Opu, a young boy in Bengal who dreams of one day becoming an elephant trainer. When he befriends Janu, an Asian elephant, their friendship is the first step on an adventure so huge, it spans decades and continents, from Bengal to Broadway.
Years in the future, Opu, now an old man, hears that world-famous magician Harry Houdini will make an elephant vanish live on stage in New York City. Could it really be Janu, Opu’s old friend, so far from home? He, too, must bravely make the long journey into the unknown to find out – and you’re invited to go with him.
Exploring themes of home and migration, family and the ties that hold us together, Cahoots theatre company brings this beautiful story to life with a nine-strong ensemble cast, spectacular puppetry and original music.
Cahoots is a Belfast-based theatre company creating theatrical magic for children and their families. Their distinctive style combines magic and illusion, physical theatre and original music. Cahoots tours to ever-growing audiences at home and across the world.
Their work is acclaimed in the UK and Ireland, Asia, America and has been enjoyed in theatres, schools and healthcare settings since 2001.
Puppets designed by Helen Foan for Foan&Fortune, with puppetry direction by Helen Foan.
Co-commissioned by Cahoots NI, Belfast and Imagination Stage, Bethesda MD. Supported by Culture Ireland. This production was also made possible through generous support by both Belfast International Arts Festival and British Council NI.
Need to know
Every adult and child needs a ticket, except for babes in arms aged under 18 months at the time of the performance who don’t need their own seat.
Haze is used in this performance.
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Reviews
‘Alluring spectacle’New York Times
‘At times reminiscent of War Horse and Life of Pi, it will be hard to vanish the memories of this production from the minds of the captivated audiences.’The Irish News
‘Captivatingly told … as poignant as it is joyful’
British Theatre Guide
Access
This event is a Relaxed Performance (RP).
Relaxed Performances have a relaxed approach to noise and movement in the space, and you are free to enter and exit during the performances. A chill-out space and noise-cancelling headphones are available for both adults and children. There are no adjustments to sound and lighting for these performances and this performance contains amplified sound, moving lights and haze.
The event on Friday 30 May at 6.30pm is British Sign Language interpreted (BSL). Interpretation is by Paul Michaels (subject to change).
To book tickets for BSL interpretation, email [email protected] or call us on 020 3879 9555.
You can join our free Access Scheme through your online Southbank Centre account or via email.
Find out more about our Access Scheme
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For your visit
This event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
Plan your visit
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is home to both our second-largest auditorium and the Purcell Room.
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Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
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