BUXTON OPERA HOUSE AND CAHOOTS NI CELEBRATE WORLD DAY OF THEATRE AND PERFORMANCE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AHEAD OF THE VANISHING ELEPHANT’S ARRIVAL IN BUXTON

Northern Irish theatre company Cahoots are preparing to tour the UK with their acclaimed production, The Vanishing Elephant, which will play at Buxton Opera House from Fri 6 – Sun 8 June 2025, having been named the Critic’s Pick of the New York Times when it debuted in 2023.

The tale was inspired by an illusion performed in New York in 1918, whereby Harry Houdini vanished a five-tonne elephant live on stage. Moved by a visit to the theatre where the original act was performed, Cahoots’ Artistic Director Paul Bosco Mc Eneaney set about developing a backstory for this amazing elephant, bringing the audience to its beginnings in India and following its journey to the USA, with twists and turns along the way.

“The story of The Vanishing Elephant is about the challenge of displacement, and, ultimately, the power of kindness,” explains Paul Bosco Mc Eneaney. “In our production we follow Janu, a majestic Asian elephant, as she befriends a young boy, Opu, in her home of India, from where she is taken.

“We see Janu facing challenges that will resonate across the globe today, as she is forced to leave her home. The overarching theme though is kindness. Her strength of character shines and her friendship with Opu leads to a very special moment at the end of the story, which we hope resonates with young audience members, schools and families across the globe.”

World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People is an international campaign promoted and celebrated each year on 20^th March. It encourages us to ‘Take a Child to the Theatre Today’ so they can ‘see, hear, feel, think and imagine.’

Sue Giles, President of ASSITEJ International says “Live theatre and performance takes each and every person, of every age, into a place that offers stories. Stories that are about us and our humanity; our frailty and our strength…ASSITEJ International chooses to spotlight World Day of Theatre as a positive and optimistic call for those with power to fling open the doors for children and young people to access live theatre and performance, and for artists to make their work more visible, accessible and relevant to those with the most barriers to arts and culture.”

The Vanishing Elephant opened off-Broadway in the New Victory Theater, New York, featuring striking life-size puppetry by Helen Foan and a talented international cast. The production is undertaking its first UK Tour this summer, playing at Buxton Opera House from 6 – 8 June 2025, in association with Buxton Opera House.

Tickets can be purchased via Buxton Opera House’s website: www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk.

Cahoots was formed in 2001 and has been locally and internationally celebrated for its distinctive style of theatre combining magic, illusion, puppetry and original music. Cahoots’ vision is to inspire a sense of wonder, unlock imagination and nurture a love of the arts in children and young people.

Cahoots is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council and Culture Ireland.