A UNIQUE MODERN DAY INTERPRETATION OF THE JUNGLE BOOK
Last Updated on 20th November 2023 by Bejal
A partnership between Curve Leicester and the Akram Khan Company brings you a relevant, contemporary, futuristic reimagination of the Rudyard Kipling classic, Jungle Book.
Full Disclosure: This review is part of an ongoing collaboration with Curve, Leicester press events. All opinions and views are honest and along with the photography remain a copy-right of Be-lavie unless otherwise stated.
“We are now living in unprecedented and uncertain times, not only for our species but for all species on this planet. And the root cause of this conundrum is because we have forgotten our connection to our home, our planet. We all inhabit it, we all take from it, and we all build on it, but we have forgotten to return our respect for it.”
Akram Khan
Akram Khan is a celebrated and respected dance artist with a string of accolades for his choreography including two Laurence Olivier Awards. His choreography is naturally instinctive but different and supremely creative in how ideas blossom into inspiring and compelling presentations.
This dance-theatre production charts Mowgli’s journey through the eyes of a climate refugee, elevated by an original awe-inspiring score, ten international dancers, and some of the best state of the art visuals and animations seen on stage. It’s about the human relationship of connecting with one another and respecting the natural world at its core.
Covering the most pertinent topics of our time, climate crisis, sustainability in the preservation of nature for the future, it’s time to appreciate we are the guests on this planet, and we don’t control nature, nor do we own it.
Reimagining the Jungle Book: A Dance Theatre production.
The production aimed to highlight the complex relationship and interconnections between animals and humans.
The lack of water in certain parts of the world and the increasingly high sea levels in others which led the creative team to where Mowgli began the journey from her homeland which is the starting point of the journey of migration to a modern, city landscape, removed of humans due to climate changes. Here live animals, escaped from zoos, laboratories and private owners who have made the city scape their own by marking territories in the major buildings, such as parliament, cathedrals and libraries.
This forms the jungle of the story with animals forging uneasy alliances, where a ruthless predator lurks. This jungle is where Mowgli earns the respect of allies in the form of an albino panther, Bagheera and a geriatric bear, Baloo. Here Mowgli is taught to listen to the water rhythms of this world to combat the dangerous outsider who carries the weapon.
It’s a serious and spellbinding performance paired gloriously with the slapstick antics of Baloo and Bagheera but at its core an intimate tale of a child who has been taken from her mother from a far land
“We humans have become geological agents by changing the most basic physical processes of the earth”
Amitav Ghosh.
This Made at Curve, Jungle Book Reimagined production, is the winning formula of a Steller creative team with the script written by young writer, Tariq Jordan, dramatic composition by Sharon Clark, an incredibly emotive score by Jocelyn Pook, sound design by Gareth Fry, lighting by Michael Hullus, visual stage design by Miriam Buether, video design and unique stage design and animation buy Yeast Culture. The amalgamation of these individual creatives bring together visionary excellence on stage both magical, current and yet dynamic.
The artists who absolutely heighten the performance to astounding levels are the ten international dancers and their interpretation both emotionally and physically of their roles of animal characters.
In particular, Holly Vallis, who plays Bagheera and the fluidity in movement and statements, Thomasin Gülgeç in his portrayal of Rama and head of the wolf pack and Kaa .
Jungle Book Reimagined is innovative, suitable for both children and adults, placing the spotlight on the biggest buzz words of our time, climate and sustainability. It’s one for generations and one for the current generation as they will be the future of our planet and it’s integrity, which relies solely now on the respect of mankind.
Following the short production at Curve Leicester (2-9 Apr 2022) Jungle Book, will be touring at the Birmingham Hippodrome (29-30 Apr 2022) after which global performances are scheduled Head to Akram Khan Company for dates, locations and how to book.
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