There is an Animal That is Called an Elephant

This event is taking place in the Pusey Room at Keble College, Oxford, OX1 3PG.

Research presentation by Dr Alexandra Paddock and sharing of a work-in-progress exploring the life and times of Henry III’s elephant through music, puppetry and text.

In 1254, to the astonishment of the English Court, King Henry III was presented by his friend and rival King Louis IX with an elephant. Based on the research of Dr Alexandra Paddock in medieval eco-criticism, and drawing on the idiosyncratic text of medieval bestiaries, There is an Animal That is Called an Elephant is a work-in-progress performance piece exploring the life and times of this elephant through music, puppetry and spoken text.

This event will begin with a 20 min research talk by Dr Alexandra Paddock, followed by a sharing of the work-in-progress and a brief Q&A with Dr Alexandra Paddock, Cheryl Frances-Hoad (composer), Tobi Poster-Su (puppeteer), Tom Poster (pianist) and Kate Wakeling (writer).