REVIEW: THE ELMER ADVENTURE
David McKee’s Beloved Patchwork Elephant Goes from Page to Stage
There’s an elephant in the room as we take our seats at Queen Elizabeth Hall… or is there?
That’s the premise of this colourful adaptation of David McKee’s much loved Elmer the Elephant books, which sees three super-fans on a jungle quest to find out if the patchwork elephant really exists.
The whimsical world is taken from page to stage via songs, stories and puppetry by Tall Stories, who are masterful adaptors of much-loved children’s books - we loved their Smeds and the Smoos adaptation.
The show’s three adventurers have loved the story of Elmer since they were childhood friends, and celebrate Elmer Day annually.
They set off on a quest to find the real-life patchwork elephant in the jungle, and instead encounter the theatre audience, who also seem to be looking for the iconic elephant.
The little audience members work with them, as they tell three Elmer stories around the jungle campfire, celebrating friendship, empathy and the celebration of being yourself.
The songs, slapstick and audience participation keep our children (four and six) fully engaged for its 55-minute duration.
They also throw in some giant pink balls, which the children gleefully bounce above their heads across the auditorium, as well as water pistol squirts.
The show’s cute finale sees the sceptic of the three sleeping alone, beside the campfire, having decided he is too serious to believe in patchwork elephants.
But lo and behold, a giant patchwork trunk emerges from behind the jungle foliage, followed by a wonderful, giant Elmer puppet, who dances with the sceptic and touchingly gifts him a patchwork teddy.
The following morning, he excitedly tells the other two about his sighting, who insist it was just a dream… until the patchwork teddy tumbles out of the blankets as they pack for their journey home.
The show proves that we will never forget the late David McKee’s glorious books about a colourful creature who was celebrated for his differences by an accepting herd, 35 years after they were first published.
The Elmer Adventure, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX. Until 3 November before its national tour in Spring 2025. Tickets from £16
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