Orange Elephant Theatre Company

Orange Elephant Theatre Company Using the creative arts to promote physical and mental health and well-being.

02/03/2026

We are sorry to announce that due to ill health within the company, we have had to cancel both performances of Now Man Up this week.

The health and wellbeing of our company has to be priority, and also we want to ensure that the show is the best that it can be.

We want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported the production, and to let you know that it will be back when the time is right.

This show means a lot to a lot of people, and the subject matter is very close to our hearts. We have signposted to mental health support lines and services to access if you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health.

Thank you again and we will see you soon. X

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT:

🐝 Samaritans - line is open 24/7 - dial 116 123.

🐝 CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) - helpline is open everyday from 5pm-midnight - dial 0800 58 58 58.

🐝 Mind - support line is open 9am-6pm Monday-Friday, with the exception of bank holidays - dial 0300 102 1234. Please note that this is not a crisis service.

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, dial NHS 111 to get further help and support, or in a crisis, to be guided towards the appropriate crisis service.

If you or someone else is experiencing a mental health crisis or medical emergency, dial 999or get to A&E straight away.

You are not alone.





***deprevention

28/02/2026

Now Man Up is coming to on Friday 6th March!

We are so excited to bring our show to this amazing space. 🐝

Tickets are available to book via the link in our bio or directly through the venue website.

10% of Now Man Up ticket sales will be donated to Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) via Work for Good.

Trigger Warning: This show contains strong language, and themes of su***de, depression, anxiety and grief.





***deprevention

22/02/2026

This piece has been an absolute labour of love, and as a group of friends who grew up performing together, creating our own work feels extremely special.

A few days ago, we got together to discuss our hopes for the play, why it is such an important story and what we hope audiences will take away from the performance.

Tickets for Now Man Up are available to book via the link in our bio or directly through the and venue websites, and we will be giving 10% of ticket sales to the su***de prevention charity , Campaign Against Living Miserably.

Trigger Warning: This show contains strong language, and themes of su***de, depression, anxiety and grief.





***deprevention

Megan trained at the London School of Musical Theatre, and has been auditioning professionally since.Her recent theatre ...
19/02/2026

Megan trained at the London School of Musical Theatre, and has been auditioning professionally since.

Her recent theatre credits include: Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (Sheringham Little Theatre), Storyteller/Cover Yonah in Children of Eden (London School of Musical Theatre), as well as several scratch nights of new writing, including her own.

Her most recent piece ´Pain Aux Raisin’, which she has written alongside her sister Matilda, will be performed this April as part of MishMash Festival at LAMDA.

Megan is the eldest daughter of Gretel, founder of OETC. She can’t wait to see Now Man Up come to life on stage and share the beautiful, important work her friends and family have created.

Tickets for Now Man Up are available to book via the link in our bio or directly through the and venue websites, and we will be giving 10% of ticket sales to the su***de prevention charity , Campaign Against Living Miserably.

Trigger Warning: This show contains strong language, and themes of su***de, depression, anxiety and grief.





***deprevention

Actor, Puppeteer, Puppetry Director and Theatre MakerTrained: East 15 Acting School.Theatre: Jim - Now Man Up (Orange El...
19/02/2026

Actor, Puppeteer, Puppetry Director and Theatre Maker
Trained: East 15 Acting School.
Theatre: Jim - Now Man Up (Orange Elephant Theatre Company), Pablo Fanque - Fantastic Pablo Fanque, Ben Gardener – Penned Up! (Hal Company/Suzannah Rosenthal Productions); Puppeteer – Zee in the City (Puppets with Guts and Nick Barnes Puppets); Ben/Alien – Tom Fletcher’s There’s A Monster in Your Show (MEI Theatrical LTD); Giant – Smartest Giant in Town (Little Angel Theatre); Mole – Wind in the Willows(Taunton Brewhouse); Adam – Ghosted (St Georges Theatre); Writer/Performer – Outskirts (Sheringham Little Theatre); Dr Watson – Sherlock Holmes Online Experience (Les Enfants Terribles); Puppeteer – Mr Men and Little Miss on Stage (Selladoor Worldwide); Plant Protector – Siyanda: Protector of Plants(Theatre-Rites); Atir – Zeraffa Giraffa (Little Angel/Omnibus Theatre).
Theatre Maker/Puppet Direction: Fantastic Pablo Fanque (supported by Norwich Theatre, Polka Theatre and Norwich Museums.
Puppetry Teaching: East 15 Acting School, Norwich Puppet Theatre, MadderMarket Theatre, Orange Elephant Theatre, Grape Arts, Age UK.
Commercial Credit: Puppeteer for Srunguk in Hearthstone (Explosive Alan Productions)

Tickets for Now Man Up are available to book via the link in our bio or directly through the and venue websites, and we will be giving 10% of ticket sales to the su***de prevention charity , Campaign Against Living Miserably.

Trigger Warning: This show contains strong language, and themes of su***de, depression, anxiety and grief.





***deprevention

In 2019 Charlie assisted the inimitable, Gretel Brice to set-up Orange Elephant Theatre Company. He performed in OETC’s ...
19/02/2026

In 2019 Charlie assisted the inimitable, Gretel Brice to set-up Orange Elephant Theatre Company. He performed in OETC’s original production of ‘Little Women’ and helped to produce and technically-operate Gretel’s amazing autobiographical production of ‘Some Things Are Meant to be, Anna’ at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Since then Charlie has helped OETC in various capacities, and is honpured to be carrying on Gretel’s legacy.

Theatre Credits include: Scarecrow in ‘The Wizard of Oz’, William Batty/Musician/Barker in ‘Fantastic Pablo Fabque’ (Theatre Royal Stage Two), King Pentheus in ‘The Bacchae’ (The Seagull Theatre), Performer in ‘La La Lads’ (Sheringham Little Theatre), Robin Hood in ‘Robin Hood’ (SLT, St George’s Theatre), Henry in ‘Thas a Rummun’ (Thom Bailey Theatre Tour), Deviser/Performer in ‘Bang the Devil’ R&D (The Seagull Theatre, Fisher Theatre), Katurian in ‘The Pillowman’ (14/7 Theatre Tour incl The Garage Theatre),
Peter Pan, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel the Lockdown Pantomime, Beauty and the Beast, The Wizard of Oz (St George’s Theatre)

Other Credits include: ‘Wednesday in Space’ (Hudson Hughes, Amazon Prime), four Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, ‘The Very Nice Improv Show’ (Beard of Zeus/Eat Yer Greens),

Other work includes: Time and Tide Museum

Tickets for Now Man Up are available to book via the link in our bio or directly through the and venue websites, and we will be giving 10% of ticket sales to the su***de prevention charity , Campaign Against Living Miserably.

Trigger Warning: This show contains strong language, and themes of su***de, depression, anxiety and grief.





***deprevention

Matilda is a professional actor, originally from Happisburgh, Norfolk. She graduated from LAMDA in 2021, and has since b...
18/02/2026

Matilda is a professional actor, originally from Happisburgh, Norfolk. She graduated from LAMDA in 2021, and has since been living and working in London.

Her recent theatre credits include: Ruth in Never Let Me Go (Bristol Old Vic/Chichester Festival Theatre/Rose Theatre, Kingston), Thea in Shooting Hedda Gabler (Rose Theatre, Kingston), Elizabeth/Louisa in Persuasion (Alexandra Palace/Oxford Playhouse/Rose Theatre, Kingston)

Her recent TV credits include: Mr Bates Vs The Post Office (ITV), Doctors (BBC)

Matilda is the youngest daughter of OETC’s founder, Gretel. She is incredibly proud of the amazing work that the OETC family do, and is so excited to share Now Man Up with audiences across Norfolk.

Tickets for Now Man Up are available to book via the link in our bio or directly through the and venue websites, and we will be giving 10% of ticket sales to the su***de prevention charity , Campaign Against Living Miserably.

Trigger Warning: This show contains strong language, and themes of su***de, depression, anxiety and grief.





***deprevention

Michelle Thompson is OETC’s Creative Director. Having worked with Gretel on the inception of Now Man Up, she is thrilled...
18/02/2026

Michelle Thompson is OETC’s Creative Director. Having worked with Gretel on the inception of Now Man Up, she is thrilled to finally be bringing the play to the stage. Michelle is a writer, director, choreographer, and facilitator whose practice is rooted in using theatre to promote emotional wellbeing and foster community. Michelle trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and her motto is “imagine, create, connect.”

Tickets for Now Man Up are available to book via the link in our bio or directly through the and venue websites, and we will be giving 10% of ticket sales to the su***de prevention charity , Campaign Against Living Miserably.

Trigger Warning: This show contains strong language, and themes of su***de, depression, anxiety and grief.





***deprevention

Gretel is the founder of Orange Elephant Theatre Company and mother to Megan and Matilda. Before her passing in February...
18/02/2026

Gretel is the founder of Orange Elephant Theatre Company and mother to Megan and Matilda. Before her passing in February 2020, she spoke to a number of men about their experiences, and challenges, with mental health. From this, she wrote a monologue inspired by these experiences, with the hopes of developing it into a full play - and so Now Man Up came to be.

As well as being a brilliant creative, Gretel was a Complimentary Health Practitioner and ran her own business for 12 years - her passion for wellness and creativity remains at the heart of everything we do here at Orange Elephant Theatre Company.

Tickets for Now Man Up are available to book via the link in our bio or directly through the and venue websites, and we will be giving 10% of ticket sales to the su***de prevention charity , Campaign Against Living Miserably.

Trigger Warning: This show contains strong language, and themes of su***de, depression, anxiety and grief.





***deprevention

No matter what you are going through, there is always someone who can help.It can feel overwhelming trying to seek suppo...
15/02/2026

No matter what you are going through, there is always someone who can help.

It can feel overwhelming trying to seek support in the throws of mental health challenges, and so having an initial signpost to get you started can be a light in the dark.

Samaritans offer a 24/7 helpline to anyone who is struggling to cope. A trained volunteer will answer your call and listen for as long as you need - you can call them for free on 116 123.

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) is a su***de prevention charity providing a wide range of mental health support guides and tools, signposts to more places you can find support, as well as running their su***de prevention helpline; the line is open everyday from 5pm-midnight - dial 0800 58 58 58.

Mind campaign for mental heath to be taken seriously by raising awareness and fighting the stigma that surrounds mental health challenges. They offer a wide range of information about mental health problems, give tips on coping day to day, and can guide you towards accessing further help for your mental health. Their support line is open 9am-6pm Monday-Friday, with the exception of bank holidays - dial 0300 102 1234. Please note that this is not a crisis service.

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, dial NHS 111 to get further help and support, or in a crisis, to be guided towards the appropriate crisis service.

If you or someone else is experiencing a mental health crisis or medical emergency, dial 999 or get to A&E straight away.

You are not alone.





***deprevention

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