National Theatre announces The Jungle Book’s full company

The National Theatre has announced full casting for Anupama Chandrasekhar’s new adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book.

The world premiere will be directed by Indhu Rubasingham, with Olivier Award-winning actor Hiran Abeysekera playing Mowgli. Puppetry will be provided by Lume, made up of Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell.

The full cast alongside Abeysekera is Parkey Abeyratne (Raksha Head), Azan Ahmed and Sebastian Charles (Baloo and Baloo Head), Sarah Amankwah and Laura Cubbit (Bagheera and Bagheera Hind), Kazeem Tosin Amore (Shere Khan Head), Antony Antunes (onstage swing), Ankur Bahl (Kaa and Bijoy), Eryck Brahmania (Devan Head), Darcy Braimoh (Shere Khan Hind), Lucca Chadwick-Patel (A and Chottu), Fred Davis and Ali Goldsmith (Moti Head and Wild Pig), Ayesha Dharker (Raksha and Messua), Valentine Hanson (Mahout), Romina Hytten (onstage swing and Puppetry Captain), Sasha Jagsi (Neela), Tony Jayawardena (Moti), Rebecca Killick and Sarah Mardel (Bagheera Heart and Wild Fowl), Avye Leventis (B and Tabaqui), Michael Jean-Marain (onstage swing), Kel Matsena (Shere Khan), Sifiso Mazibuko (Akela), Jordan Metcalfe (Cat), Shaun Yusuf McKee (Devan), Sharita Oomeer (Stork), Mahesh Parmar (C and Sonu) and Gavin L Vincent (Akela Head).

Rubasingham said: “The Jungle Book is the first film I have a memory of going to see in the cinema, I remember being petrified when Shere Khan appeared on screen and hiding under the cinema seat. Anupama’s new version for the stage will enchant a new generation, whilst surprising those who feel that they know it well.

“This truly feels like a global endeavour – we’re drawing on the rich storytelling culture inherent in India, a large cast of 30 extraordinary performers, a cinematic orchestral score by one of Spain’s leading composers and the best of this country’s puppetry teams bringing these beloved characters to life.”

The production is adapted from Kipling’s stories and is set in the mangroves of the Sundarbans, where Mowgli is raised by wolves and encounters a range of animals as he grows up.

The creative team also includes set and costume designer Rajha Shakiry, movement director Caldwell, composer Fernando Velázquez, lighting designer Oliver Fenwick, video designer Ash J Woodward, sound designer Benjamin Grant, casting directors Bryony Jarvis-Taylor and Martin Poile, dialect coach Shereen Ibrahim, voice coach Cathleen McCarron, associate director John Young, associate set designer Ruth Hall, associate costume designer Jasmine Araujo, associate puppetry and movement director Scarlet Wilderink, associate puppet designer Caroline Bowman and associate sound designer Jonas Roebuck.

The production is supported by the Bagri Foundation and Kusuma Trust. Chandrasekhar is also part of the National Theatre Studio’s International Artist Residencies programme, supported by the CHANEL Culture Fund.

The production will run in the Olivier Theatre from 13 November 2026 to 6 February 2027.