The story of Britain’s first all-female crime syndicate will be brought to the stage at Seaton’s Gateway Theatre on Friday, March 1.

The Forty Elephants Gang operated between the late 19th century and the 1950s. The show ’40 Elephants’ is set in a music hall in 1927 when the gang’s former leader Alice Diamond had just been released from prison.

The show is being performed by the female-led actor-musician company Stowaway Theatre, which is dedicated to bringing historical true stories to life on the stage. Stowaway Theatre said the production takes the audience into ‘a world of glamour, violence, feisty female gangs, music, and mayhem … witness the rules, raids, consequences and betrayals as these women, born into poverty, strive to escape their circumstances by any means necessary'.

40 Elephants was written by the company’s founder Lizi Bennett, who wanted to make a piece of theatre based on a strong female-focused story.

Explaining what attracted her to research the exploits of the gang, Lizi said: “Although they were criminals and at times incredibly unpleasant, I really do think theirs is a story that should be celebrated; The 40 Elephant Gang was hugely successful – running from pre 1900s well into the 1950/60s, a massive achievement for young working-class women in an era where career options were extremely scarce.

“The divide in class was enormous, something which unfortunately is still very relevant today; these women were just doing what they needed to do to survive.

“It was their ingenuity and bravery as well as the cooperative element of the gang that saved them from a far more miserable way of life – even if their path did have its own dangers.”

'40 Elephants' began its journey as part of the Exeter Northcott Artist Futures programme in 2022. The production underwent further development through the Exeter Phoenix artist support scheme, in partnership with the Northcott Theatre and other Exeter-based venues. Stowaway Theatre then launched in 2023 after a successful Arts Council funding application to develop the show.

Tickets for ’40 Elephants’ are available now from thegatewayseaton.co.uk