Escape from the Zoo

Its astonishing to think that in 1864, the Botanic Gardens was full of wild animals, exotic birds and even a Canadian Bear.

All this came about during the acclimatisation period of the 1860s when the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society used a site near the band rotunda for housing, acclimatising and breeding animals to be liberated into Canterbury.

The main focus was on trout and birds, but also other breeds which became the starting point of many of our pets today. So, as a slice of our fantastic heritage and as a celebration of Beca Heritage Week, a fun adventure show has been devised by the Botanic Gardens team, with a comical and educational view of this era in time.

Outwits and Buskers performers have been brought together by director Mark Hadlow to play all sorts of fauna and human roles to create an entertaining show for the whole family. Escape From The Zoo is written by Jared Corbin of the Outwits and it will prove to be a wonderful adventure through the Botanic Gardens. There will be stories and fun, and appearances by the animals themselves… up close and personal.

Do you honestly expect people to believe there were monkeys, emus, parrots and deer, and a bear running riot in the Botanic Gardens? There were, and you have to see Escape From The Zoo to believe it.

Thursday 28 – Saturday 30 October, 5pm, 6pm & 7pm each day

Christchurch Botanic Gardens, Band Rotunda

Free event but bookings are recommended

Make a booking

Disability access

Parking is available (off Rolleston Ave)

  • Botanic Gardens.

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