The Pink Elephant Joins the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival
As the days grow longer and summer begins to bloom, there’s a renewed sense of celebration in the air. And at The Pink Elephant, 2025 marks the start of a bold new chapter - one where we bring more to the table than ever before.
We began with beautifully curated grazing platters, picnic boxes, and sharing boards, celebrating small, independent producers and a love of good food. We still do that - and we do it well. But now, we offer so much more, meeting your full event catering needs with a fresh, fabulous, and deeply flexible approach.
A Theatre with Deep Roots
Set on the edge of St Albans, amidst rolling green countryside, the Roman Theatre of Verulamium is the oldest working theatre in Britain. Built in 140 AD and uncovered centuries later, it’s a space that once held processions and performances - and still does. Today, the remains of the theatre curve around an open-air stage the comes alive each summer.
Since 2014, the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival has been curated by OVO, an acclaimed theatre production company known for bold reimaginings and thoughtful programming. Named one of The Times’ top seven boutique theatres in the UK, OVO continues to draw audiences with a season that blends innovative adaptations of classic plays with vibrant musical performances. This year, audiences can expect everything from Les Misérables and Hamlet to The Great Gatsby, Lord of the Flies, and a disco-infused A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
A New Chapter for us
The Pink Elephant has grown from a kitchen table idea into a full-service events and catering company. What began with hand-assembled grazing boxes has become something far broader: private celebrations, corporate functions, weddings, brand launches - and now, our first full festival season.
The collaboration with OVO began in late 2024, when our founder, Ian, met Marketing Manager Faye Ferriday through the We Are Harpenden network. A conversation at the Christmas gathering planted the seed. By February, we were exchanging ideas, developing menus, and designing a picnic experience that felt right for this extraordinary setting - something relaxed, seasonal, and unmistakably The Pink Elephant.
Picnics, Reimagined
For this year’s festival, The Pink Elephant has created a series of boxes designed with ease and enjoyment in mind - fresh, portable, and ready to be unwrapped at OVO's hilltop bar or on your lap as the lights go down. Each one is filled with carefully sourced, seasonal ingredients from small independent producers, and wrapped in our signature fuchsia pink packaging, finished with a flourish of bright blooms.
There’s something for everyone. Charcuterie boxes for one or two feature Spanish Manchego, Italian pecorino, prosciutto, salami, crackers, olives and fruit - ideal for picking during the performance. Vegetarian boxes are layered with grilled aubergines, pickled chillies, semi-dried tomatoes and cheeses. Children’s graze boxes come packed with colourful brioche buns, salami, cheese, berries and dried apricots.
For a bigger spread, the Summer Safari Picnic Box - made for up to six includes artisan breads, award-winning cheeses, cured meats, pastries, brownies, fresh fruit, and more. It’s made for sharing to enjoy together as the evening begins. This box can also be pre-ordered as part of a picnic table package, which includes reserved space and a glass of bubbles for each guest.
Guests are encouraged to pre-order when booking tickets, though a limited number of boxes will also be available on-site. Each one includes eco-conscious cutlery, so all you need to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy.
A Launch to Remember
To mark the start of the season, we’re delighted to be co-sponsoring the VIP launch event on the 9th of June, working closely with OVO to bring something celebratory to the occasion. Guests will be welcomed with a selection of summer canapés - think harissa lamb skewers with tahini and pomegranate, vibrant plant-based tortillas, and smoked chicken with sundried tomato and basil - served alongside a preview of our picnic offering. It’s a joyful beginning to what promises to be a long, sun-filled season of food, theatre, and community.
We’re so delighted to be part of this year’s Roman Theatre Open Air Festival - an event that captures the feeling of summer in Britain. Time outside. Good company. Something tasty to eat. A shared moment as the sun dips and the evening begins.
Whether you’re coming for the first time or returning as a yearly tradition, we’d love to help make it even more memorable. Pre-order your charcuterie or picnic box when booking tickets online, and we’ll have it ready for you. Visit www.ovo.org.uk to explore the full programme and reserve your box.