The Jungle Book

Synopsis

One of literature's most enduring classics is brought vividly to the stage in this exciting adventure of Mowgli who is raised by caring wolves, befriended by Bagheera the panther and Baloo the bear, and threatened by Shere Khan, the sinister tiger. In this action packed play, filled with excitement and humour, The Jungle Book highlights the struggle of good versus evil, the worth of friendship and the importance of loyalty and other values required for surviving the 'law of the jungle'.

Our Review:

Anne Morley-Priestman - 18 May 2011

There is nothing Disneyesque or dumbed-down about this Birmingham Stage Company show, and it’s a tribute to adapter Stuart Paterson, director Neal Foster and designer Jacqueline Trousdale that a very young audience at the matinee performance I saw sat absolutely enthralled for the whole two hours.

The subtle blend of Indian dress with anthropomorphic masks and costumes and a clever, flexible set allowed for the mix of fantasy and reality in Kipling’s books to make its proper impact. Not many children’s shows credit an animal movement expert as well as a choreographer. Peter Elliott is the man in question and his input is extremely effective.

Our young hero Mowgli is played by Samuel Hargreaves, credible as the boy who has to learn to be a man while acknowledging his debt to the junge denizens who have reared him. Natasha Lewis doubles the two caring mother roles – wolf Raksha and human Messua. In the large cast, Laura Waggott as...

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