The Jungle Book- Octagon Theatre, Bolton

Writer: Rudyard Kipling

Adaptor: Andrew Pollard

Music: Ziad Jabero

Director: Sarah Punshon

Rudyard Kipling was the Peter Parker of his day regarding colonisation as a moral responsibility rather than a means of exploitation. Kipling‘s views are now so unpopular that a recent dance adaptation of The Jungle Book did not even acknowledge him as the author of the source material. Andrew Pollard’s adaptation takes a more respectful, if raucous, approach to Kipling’s stories.

Efforts by she-wolf Akeela (Harveen Mann-Neary) to lull her young pack to sleep with a story are frustrated by the unexpected arrival in the jungle of an abandoned child, Mowgli ( Kiara Nicole Pillai). With the support of the bear Baloo( Charlie Ryan) and panther Bagheera (Ashley D Gayle) Akeela persuades the wolf pack to adopt the foundling. But this incurs the displeasure of tiger Shere Khan( Rachel Marwood) who fears the fire which humans can create and intends to eradicate them starting with Mowgli.

Adaptor Andrew Pollard drops most of Kipling’s ‘laws of the jungle’ preferring an unusual domestic drama as Mowgli moves from a dutiful child (a puppet with, frankly, disturbingly immobile facial features) to a cocky know-all teenager straining against the safety restrictions imposed by his three parents. Probably many children in the audience will relate to his reluctance to stop showing off and go to bed.

Kiara Nicole Pillai is an excellent hero- inventive but headstrong and reckless. The turning point on Mowgli’s reluctant journey to maturity is an encounter with a group of streetwise but dim monkeys (who for some reason have Birmingham accents) whose hilarious laddish behaviour is a comic highpoint but demonstrates to Mowgli that playing without regard to consequences is an empty achievement.

The Jungle Book is not a typical festive show – there is no chance of any snowy scenes. But director Sarah Punshon ensures it is attractive to young children. One of Mowgli’s schemes involves firing fruits from a catapult into the delighted audience. There are a heck of a lot of fart and poop jokes and Mowgli’s method of showing superiority is to waggle his bum.

Overall, the mood is one of controlled anarchy with Mowgli stumbling from one misadventure to another. Director Punshon nudges the show close to immersive theatre. The atmospheric opening, with Ziad Jabero’s tribal soundtrack playing in the background, has the audience surrounded by animal eyes glowing in the darkness. The audience is invited to become part of the wolf pack by howling along and raising hackles by waving arms in the air.

It is a very physical show. The cast might not be the most polished singers but they are certainly enthusiastic; taking on multiple roles, dancing and swinging from gymnasium ropes.

Ziad Jabero’s music is varied; moving from authentically tribal to scat/jazz reminiscent of Cab Calloway and, of course, the soundtrack to the Disney version of the story.

Whereas the heroes have to make do with leisurewear or exercise gear the villains are dressed stylishly in Katie Scott’s imaginative costume designs. The snake Kaa played by Harveen Mann-Neary is a hissing menace in yards of green chiffon and spangled tights. A ringmaster style costume with orange stripes is perfect for Rachel Marwood’s sleek but unhinged approach to Shere Khan.

Whilst not a conventional festive show, The Jungle Book offers plenty to engage young audiences and entertain older groups.

22^nd November 2024 to 4^th January 2025