The Elmer Adventure at Storyhouse

Shekina Rose, Families Editor

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The Elmer Adventure

8-9 July 2025

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Image courtesy of Charlie Flint Photography 2025.
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This summer award-winning theatre company Tall Stories who brought The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom to life, returns with a brand new family show, The Elmer Adventure, coming to Storyhouse on 8 and 9 July. It’s bright and it’s bold, and it’s all about elephants – the patchwork kind.

Created for children aged 3+ and the adults who still tear up over beautifully illustrated, heartwarming stories, The Elmer Adventure takes three of David McKee’s beloved tales (Elmer, Elmer and the Tune, and Elmer and the Hippos) and beautifully stitches them together into a blend of colour, puppetry, music, and delightful storytelling.

A group of childhood friends head into the jungle on a mission to find the real Elmer, while reflecting on their lifelong love of the patchwork prince and their annual Elmer Day celebrations. It’s a playful production packed with lessons about identity, friendship, and the joy of standing out.

You are encouraged to wear your most colourful clothes to the show.

The Elmer Adventure at the Storyhouse has got everything you want from a family production – wit, silliness, and that warm-fuzzy magic feeling. We do recommend you bring tissues, just in case.

Where to go near The Elmer Adventure at Storyhouse

City Centre
Bar or Pub
Schofield’s Bar

Schofield’s could be Manchester’s most grown-up bar. Very precise drinks in an upmarket city centre venue. It’s not cheap, hey, but true class costs.

Manchester
Restaurant
Sampa

Sampa’s underground space is the perfect place to learn about both her new mind-expanding dishes and vintage sherries, reimagined for the late 2020s.

Northern Quarter
Restaurant
Sicilian NQ

Busy backstreet Sicilian restaurant in the Northern Quarter, serving up traditional dishes with well-executed vegan versions that more than match up.

Manchester
Restaurant
Maki & Ramen

Japanese sushi and ramen restaurant on High Street, Northern Quarter, founded by Teddy Lee. House-made noodles, eight-hour broths, plus sushi, donburi and vegan options.

Restaurant Orme
Manchester
Restaurant
Restaurant Örme

A hidden gem in the suburbs of Greater Manchester, serving high-level British small plates to a soundtrack of indie rock and roll.

The Abbey
Manchester
Restaurant
The Abbey

Historic Hulme pub with a very good live gig space, brought to you by the very capable team behind YES, Gorilla, Now Wave and Manchester Psych Fest.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
Pigeon Beer Wanderer

Pigeon Beer Wanderer brings wine-level ceremony to Manchester’s new “Beermuda Triangle”, courtesy of Joshua Lightfoot and his crack team of booze experts.

Image courtesy of Unitom.
Castlefield
Gallery
UNITOM Projects

The exhibition arm of Manchester indie bookshop UNITOM is a dedicated space for contemporary visual culture in the St John’s neighbourhood.

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