By visiting this Website, you agree to the use of essential + preferences Cookies. If you want to opt in to statistics Cookies to have your Website visit analyzed, check the box below & click ‘Submit’. We do not track your visit if you leave the box unchecked. For more details, see our Cookie Policy.

Close-up of a person's torso. They wear vintage masculine clothing, including a button up white shirt through which we see ample cleavage and a tweed waistcoat with a chain likely holding a pocket watch. Their right hand is held in a fist; it is bloodied and wears four silver wrings. Their left hand is open and holding a variety of large coins.
Close-up of a person's torso. They wear vintage masculine clothing, including a button up white shirt through which we see ample cleavage and a tweed waistcoat with a chain likely holding a pocket watch. Their right hand is held in a fist; it is bloodied and wears four silver wrings. Their left hand is open and holding a variety of large coins. Text at the bottom reads: The Elephant Girls.
Photo: Photo by Andrew Alexander.

A notorious gang A notorious gang

of women terrorize London for over 100 years, stealing from the rich & giving to themselves.

Photo: Photo by Andrew Alexander.

Home Events Performance The Elephant Girls: 10th anniversary performance

The Elephant Girls: 10th anniversary performance

From Thursday, November 13 to Sunday, November 16, 2025 – Parry Riposte Productions celebrates the 10th anniversary of Margo MacDonald’s award-winning solo show The Elephant Girls, presenting a short run in the Great Canadian Theatre Company’s Studio Theatre.

The true story of the all-female gang that once terrorized London, England

Clever, organized, devious and daring, The Elephant Girls stole from the rich and gave to themselves. This is the gripping story of the all-female gang that terrorized London for over 100 years. A fascinating piece of lost women’s history, the play centres on the 1920s, when the gang was at the height of its power—and when the events took place which would mean its downfall.

“Without doubt, they were the most notorious girl gang Britain’s ever seen.”

– Brian MacDonald, The Gangs of London

“Right here, right now, for one night only, I’ll tell you something special I ain’t never told no one before; I’ll tell you the truth.” Maggie Hale – the gang’s butch, suit-wearing, bloody-knuckled, girl-chasing “enforcer” – will tell you all: who they were, what they did, how they got away with it, and how it all came crashing down. But should you trust the words of someone who’s made deception her stock-in-trade? Just how much are you sure you want to hear?

Wrapping issues of power, class, gender and violence around the story of Maggie Hale, The Elephant Girls uses history to grapple with issues society still struggles with today. Directed by Mary Ellis, this riveting hit performance features Margo MacDonald. The show returns to Ottawa after an anniversary run in Toronto at Red Sandcastle Theatre (September 10 – 14).

“A gripping, psychological insight into gang life… The Elephant Girls evolves into a deeply psychological struggle between truth and fiction, as Maggie wrestles with the dangerous passion that bubbles beneath her carefully constructed bravado. Complex, subtle, and often deeply uncomfortable, this battle is fascinating to watch.”

– Jordan Shaw, The List (Edinburgh)

About Margo MacDonald & The Elephant Girls

A veteran of the Canadian indie theatre scene, Margo MacDonald has, together with her team, created a show that has captivated audiences wherever it has played. The show has won multiple awards, including Outstanding Overall, Critics’ Pick for Best Show (Ottawa Fringe Festival); Outstanding New Work, Outstanding Direction and Outstanding Performance, Les Prix Rideau Awards (Ottawa); Best Actor (Capital Critics’ Circle); Critic’s Choice (Hamilton Fringe Festival). It has sold out runs, including 100% Sold Out (Ottawa Fringe) and twice 100% Sold Out (Winnipeg Fringe), and garnered rave reviews. Touring both nationally and internationally, the show has played the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and had runs in London and Brighton in England and the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival in Ireland, as well as various festivals and venues across Canada.

About Parry Riposte Productions

Parry Riposte Productions was originally formed to produce an as-yet-unproduced play about a female swordfighter. While still waiting to mount that show, they’ve been producing whatever else strikes their fancy, with a focus on the inclusion of queer content, as well as creating new work which takes risks and is challenging for the skills and talents of the artists involved. Read more about them and their previous productions here.

Diagonally angled photo of a woman dressed in 1930s masculine clothing, including a button up white shirt, patterned burgundy tie, unbuttoned black vest and black pants, sits at a wooden table. Her arms are crossed at her chest and she stares off to the left, a scowl on her face. On the table are a pint of beer, an open switchblade, a tiny hand gun and a disassembled sword cane with a decorative silver handle.

(Photo credits: Margo MacDonald. Photo by Allan Mackey. The Elephant Girls image on the Events page is by Andrew Alexander.)

 

Event details

Presented by: Parry Riposte Productions 

Type of event: solo theatre performance

Written and performed by: Margo MacDonald 

Directed by: Mary Ellis 

Dates: Thursday, November 13 – Sunday, November 16, 2025

Start times:

  • Nightly @ 7:30 PM ET
  • Saturday & Sunday matinées @ 2:00 PM ET

Duration: 80 minutes (no intermission)

Cost: C$33.00 (+ $3.00 fee)

Location: Great Canadian Theatre Company, Studio Theatre, 1233 Wellington St. West, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 0G7, Canada

Trailer: Watch the trailer.

Booking link: Book your tickets here. Wheelchair spot reservations are available.

Contact details: Parry Riposte Productions, Contact form, parryriposte.ca

 

Content warning: For audiences 16+. Descriptions of violence and sexual activity, plus strong language and alcohol use. For more detailed content notes, please contact the Great Canadian Theatre Company box office at (613) 236-5196 or at boxoffice@gctc.ca

Accessibility: This show is suitable for blind or low-vision audience members. More info here.

COVID-19 policy: Mask-wearing is still strongly recommended. They ask anyone who is not feeling well to stay home. More info here.

Refund policy: All sales are final. There are no refunds on ticket purchases. Exchanges and date changes are available up to 24 hours before the original performance date and are subject to a C$5.00 fee. This fee is waived for subscribers, who can exchange tickets for free, subject to availability.