Elephants is a great play that I discovered a couple of years ago. When re-reading it recently, I thought it had amazing potential for a student production with my year at Arts Ed. Elephants is about family discord due to grief and prejudice presented in a very funny and emotional way. There are strong themes about mental health running through it. I think it's a special play that shows a lot of promise to make people laugh and understand many of the harder things some people are presented with in life.
I took the initiative to audition my year of performers and have chosen an amazing cast and crew to help me bring the production to life. I've been busy obtaining copyright (which many people will know is pricey) and buying scripts, and there will be other costs including box office commission. I have done this so far with money that's been lent.
We are selling tickets to the show, and have pledged two-thirds of all our ticket income to the Charlie Waller Trust which works with young people, parents and carers, schools, colleges, universities and employers to give people the confidence and skills to look after their mental health.
For now, the other one-third of proceeds will be retained to cover our costs. We are aiming to raise enough money through crowdfunding to cover the costs of staging the play (which we are keeping to a minimum) so that we can repay the loan, ideally without having to resort to any part of the ticket income. Every penny over and above the costs of staging the show will be given to the Charlie Waller Trust.
Every donation to this crowdfunder, however small, will ensure that the Charlie Waller Trust benefits more.