British Indian actor Adi Chugh, known for Hindi films like Shakuntala Devi (Prime Video) and Bell Bottom, takes on a career-defining role as the lead in The Vanishing Elephant, the latest touring production by Northern Irish theatre company Cahoots NI.
Supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council and Culture Ireland, the show opens at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall on 29 May 2025, before touring to Buxton, Oxford and Coventry.
Chugh as the lead in The Vanishing Elephant, shares the stage with a life-sized Indian elephant brought to life by puppetry. At the centre is the relationship between Janu and Opu, played by Chugh, whose journey spans multiple life stages in a performance that brings heart, depth, and global perspective to a timeless tale. The play follows the journey of Opu, a young boy in Bengal, who dreams of one day becoming an elephant trainer. When he befriends Janu, an Asian Elephant, their friendship is the first step on an adventure so huge, it spans decades and continents. On their separate paths they face many challenges – fearsome encounters, stormy seas and strange new worlds. Years in the future, Opu, now an old man, hears that world famous magician Harry Houdini will vanish an elephant, live on stage in New York City. Could it really be Janu, Opu’s old friend, so far from home? He too must bravely make the long journey into the unknown to find out.
“To be granted the opportunity of playing Opu, at three greatly contrasting ages as a child, teenager & an elderly man, alongside Janu, the beautiful Indian elephant, has been a rewarding challenge which I’ve enjoyed tackling. It’s urged me to push the range of my voice and body as an actor while having a wild yet soulful elephant as a scene partner in a story with Desi roots. That’s unbelievable and unbeatable,” says Chugh.
Written by Charles Way and directed by Cahoots NI’s Artistic Director Paul Bosco McEneaney, with puppetry design and direction by Helen Foan, The Vanishing Elephant was described by The New York Times as “an alluring spectacle” during its Off-Broadway run at the prestigious New Victory Theater. The U.S. tour also included celebrated performances at the Kravis Center (Florida), Segerstrom Center (California) and the Lied Center (Nebraska), receiving widespread acclaim for its visual artistry and cross-cultural narrative.
Inspired by Harry Houdini’s 1918 illusion of making a five-ton elephant disappear live on stage, the play reimagines the origins of that moment, tracing Janu’s journey from her home in India to the West. Blending storytelling, puppetry, movement and music, the production is a moving exploration of displacement, belonging and the universal power of kindness.
UK Tour Dates:
Southbank Centre, London (Queen Elizabeth Hall): 29 May – 1 June 2025
Buxton Opera House: 6 – 8 June 2025
Oxford Playhouse: 11 – 14 June 2025
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry: 18 – 21 June 2025
To find out more visit https://cahootsni.com/productions/the-vanishing-elephant/
