Poonamallee, Exeter Northcott Theatre Company

An Elephant in the Garden is Simon Reade’s new adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s best-selling children’s novel.

1945. Dresden, Germany. Lizzie, her mother – and an elephant from the zoo, flee the Allied fire-bombing in the end-game of the Second World War.

Escaping the Allies’ advance from the West – and also the advancing Russian armies from the East – this extraordinary trio of refugees meet: a downed RAF officer, cowering in a barn; a homeless school choir on the run and their Countess saviour, harbouring them from the Nazis; and the mechanised American cavalry, appearing over the horizon.

It is Lizzie’s story – but Marlene, the elephant, is the heroine. Plodding, obdurate, opportunistic, loadbearing, indestructible, cheering – Marlene embodies the stubbornness of the human will and how it will do everything to survive.

Previous Reade / Morpurgo collaborations include Toro! Toro!, The Mozart Question and Private Peaceful. Alison Reid has worked at the RSC, Bristol Old Vic and National Theatre and performs in The Mozart Question.

Running time approx. 1 hour 15 minutes
Age recommendation: 8 and over