"There is an Animal That is Called an Elephant": work-in-progress sharing

Thursday 4 June 2026, 5-6pm
Pusey Room, Keble College
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Free, registration required

In 1254, King Henry III of England received an extraordinary gift from King Louis IX of France – an elephant.

There is an Animal That is Called an Elephant is a work-in-progress performance inspired by this moment. Drawing on Dr Alexandra Paddock’s research into medieval eco-criticism and the imaginative world of bestiaries, it explores the life of this elephant through music, puppetry and spoken word.

The event begins with a 20-minute talk by Dr Alexandra Paddock, followed by a sharing of the work-in-progress and a short Q&A with Alexandra Paddock, Cheryl Frances-Hoad (composer), Tobi Poster-Su (puppeteer), Tom Poster (pianist), and Kate Wakeling (writer).

Development support by the Schwarzman Centre Cultural Programme, University of Oxford