The Elephant's Child

DragonBird Theatre bring The Elephant's Child to Kelvin Players Theatre on Friday 16 October, a family show that brings Rudyard Kipling's classic tale to life through puppetry, music and storytelling. If you've read the story before, you'll remember the curious baby elephant who asks too many questions and ends up with a trunk that's far longer than any other elephant's — the show follows that same journey.

It's part of DragonBird's wider approach to theatre, which they describe as interactive, folk-inspired stories for under fives, with live music and sensory play woven in. That means it's not just a sit-and-watch affair; the music is played live on stage, and the sensory elements are there for the youngest in the room to engage with. The puppetry does a lot of the heavy lifting, turning Kipling's prose into something you can actually see and follow, and the storytelling keeps the whole thing moving.

DragonBird tends to work with folk-inspired sounds, so you can expect the music to feel rooted in that tradition rather than something polished and commercial. It's the kind of thing that works well for a family outing, especially with the under-fives in mind — the sensory play is designed for that age group, so it's a good bet if you've got little ones who struggle to stay still for a full performance.

The Elephant's Child runs at Kelvin Players Theatre in Bristol on Friday 16 October. It's a family show, so it's one to bring the kids along to.