First look at RSC’s The Magician’s Elephant as it reopens the Royal Shakespeare Theatre
A first look at new musical The Magician’s Elephant has been revealed.
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s stage adaption of Kate DiCamillo’s award-winning novel features a book and lyrics from Nancy Harris and music and lyrics from Marc Teitler.
The production is currently running to 1 January 2022 at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, marking the official re-opening of the venue as it prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2021.
The cast is made up of Sharif Afifi (Milliner), Marc Antolin (Leo Matienne), Alison Arnopp (Baker), Renu Arora (Madame LaVaughn), Amy Booth-Steel (Narrator), Hannah Brown (Swing), Melissa James (Gloria Matienne), Michael Carolan (Swing), Lucca Chadwick-Patel (Fishmonger), Stephen John Davis (Doctor), Zoe Halliday (The Elephant), Sam Harrison (Count Quintet), Lauren Jones (Lisette), Forbes Masson (Police Chief), Wela Mbusi (The Elephant), Mark Meadows (Vilna Lutz), Suzanne Nixon (The Elephant), Miriam Nyarko (Adele), Alastair Parker (Magician), Wendy Somerville (Mrs Griswald) Summer Strallen (Countess Quintet), Mandi Symonds (Sister Marie), Chrystine Symone (Lamplighter) and Jack Wolfe (Peter Duchene).
The production is directed by Sarah Tipple, Associate Director to Gregory Doran on The Boy in the Dress. The production features design by Colin Richmond, lighting by Oliver Fenwick, Music Supervision and Musical Direction by Tom Brady, Orchestrations by Sarah Travis and Marc Teitler, vocal arrangements by Tom Brady and Marc Teitler, sound by Paul Groothuis and movement by Francesca Jaynes.
Dramaturgy is by Réjane Collard-Walker. Puppetry direction is by Mervyn Millar with puppetry design by Mervyn Millar and Tracy Waller. Illusion Design is by John Bulleid and video is by Douglas O’Connell.
The Magician’s Elephant was originally due to run in 2020/2021 but was postponed due to the ongoing pandemic, which included the temporary cancellation of all RSC performances, events and other activities.
Baltese is a town where nothing extraordinary ever happens. Recovering from a recent war, it is a lonely place, where young Peter lives a frugal life. Then one day, a magician conjures an elephant from the sky, whose 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 that even the impossible can be possible when we open our eyes and hearts to those around us
The Magician’s Elephant runs to 1 January 2022 at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre with tickets available online from rsc.org.uk.
