By Michael Morpurgo
In an adaptation by Samuel Adamson
Produced by Regent’s Park Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre
For Will, going to Indonesia isn’t just another holiday with mum. It’s a new start, and the chance to ride an elephant called Oona.
But then the tsunami hit – and Oona charges into the jungle, with her young rider desperately clinging on.
Read reviews
Show all reviewsThe Daily Telegraph
"A WINNER. The puppetry is exquisite, with full-sized animals manipulated so they seem to breathe with documentary life. And as the sun goes down over Regent’s Park and Paul Anderson’s atmospheric lighting kicks in, THE MAGIC REALLY HITS YOU."
The Times
"A role-swapping, puppet-wielding cast…team together to offer vivid suggestions of both the danger and beauty of this tropical wilderness…
REMARKABLE by its INVENTIVE, EVOCATIVE STAGING."
Time Out
"It’s A CROWDPLEASER, mainly thanks to INSPIRING and ENERGETIC staging, namely some amazing puppet animals...brought to beautifully articulated life. This fairy-lit stage in Regent’s Park is one of the prettiest theatres in the world, and deserves to be on everyone’s summer night bucket list."
Evening Standard
"What an AUDACIOUS and IMAGINATIVE start this is to the season....stylishly directed by Timothy Sheader and Dale Rooks. And those puppets are things of never-ending beauty."
Whats On Stage
"This ABSORBING VISUAL FEAST gradually develops from a lost-in-the-jungle survival story into a morality tale that pitches a brave child against murderous poachers intent on killing endangered wildlife for profit. The animals, all magnificent life-size puppets designed by Finn Caldwell and Toby Olié, are played with tender warmth and humour by their 'handlers', with Oona the elephant exuding charm and courage."
Radio Times
"Beautifully realised and modulated...the puppet-work is fantastic…and other touches from directors Timothy Sheader and Dale Rooks were dazzling: the sung music effects of the sea from the chorus and the patter of rain, the huge blue material that represented the tsunami and enveloped the audience at one point took my breath away. A BRILLIANT, LIFE-AFFIRMING SHOW."
CREATIVE TEAM
- Paul Anderson – Lighting Designer
- Finn Caldwell and Toby Olié for Gyre & Gimble – Puppetry Design and Direction
- Louise Anna Duggan – Music Director (Performance)
- Barbara Houseman – Season Associate Director (Voice & Text)
- Majella Hurley – Dialect Coach
- Oliver Kaderbhai – Assistant Director
- Georgina Lamb – Movement Director
- Nick Lidster – Sound Designer
- Verity Naughton – Ensemble Casting
- Rod Paton – Composer and Musical Director
- Nick Powell – Sound Score
- Jessica Ronane CDG – Casting Director
- Dale Rooks – Co-Director
- Tim Sheader – Director
- Paul Wills – Designer
CAST
- Stuart Angell – Mani the Orangutan
- Okorie Chukwu – Red Bandana / Mahout
- Laura Cubitt – Oona the Elephant
- Fred Davis – Tonk the Orangutan
- Joshua Fernandes – Will
- Joyce Henderson – Granny
- Hattie Ladbury – Mum / Geraldine
- John Leader – Oona the Elephant
- Eric Mallett – Grandad / Kaya
- Ira Mandela Siobhan – Dad / Hunter
- Sarah Mardel – Mani the Orangutan
- Tyler Osborne – Will
- Ava Potter – Lilly
- Ben Thompson – Oona the Elephant
- Stephen Ventura – Mr Anthony
