Review: Jungle Book Reimagined at Birmingham Hippodrome

It’s the Jungle Book - but not as we know it.

Mowgli isn’t a boy lost in a wondrous wilderness, Mowgli a girl found deserted in a flooding city ravaged by climate change.

And that’s not all.

Although Mowgli still ends up being kidnapped by monkeys - these aren’t the monkeys of the wild forests, they are lab monkeys who have suffered rigorous testing from humankind and can be heard regurgitating commercial jingles and political rants from their cages.

This mysterious world is brought to life by the skilful movements of the supple dancers, deftly portraying the might and plight of the animals as they navigate the unfolding challenges from their altering environment.

This is enhanced by the impressive neon lit outlines of life-size elephants pounding across the stage and birds fluttering before our eyes amid a stunning array of visuals.

The audience is almost swept away in a flooding scene which swells across the set.

Fun-loving sloth bear, Balloo is recreated as an escaped dancing bear, but don’t expect to hear any of his famous ditties.

The music befits the dark land and horrors that Mowgli and her new found friends and enemies face, adding to the thought-provoking story which raises so many important issues for today.

The production has been created by a range of arts organisations from across the world, including Birmingham Hippodrome, Edinburgh International Festival and theatres in Singapore, Canada, Spain, France and Hong Kong.

The highly dramatic show from the Akram Khan Company has been supported by the Arts Council and is being presented by the Birmingham 2022 Festival.

It’s certainly got a message for us all which is delivered with intrigue and wonder.

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