Hull City Hall – until 17th October 2023
Reviewed by Dawn Bennett
5*****
Concrete Youth production of The Whispering Jungle is in association with Mercury Theatre, Colchester and supported by Arts Council England, Hull City Council and Back to Ours.
I reviewed Concrete Youth’s last production called To the Moon and Back and I did wonder how they would be able to do the same high level of show that I saw last time. I needn’t have worried … they were absolutely brilliant!
Concrete Youth provide shows for people who are labelled with having Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD). The shows are multi-sensory and are also signed in Makaton. The cast Ewan S Pires (Turtle), Laura Kaye Thomson (Bird), Finn Kebbe (Monkey) and accompanied by Frew (who was also the Music, lyrics and Musical Director) on keyboard all played their parts brilliantly. This multi-talented cast also played guitar, double base and their singing, acting and beautiful harmonies were fabulous.
The set is simple but lovely and very effective, muted greens of the jungle and bright coloured flowers. The audience sits within the speakers so we were surrounded by the sounds of the ocean, the jungle and the animals within it.
The story is of Bird, Monkey and Turtle living in the jungle together and how they are all friends. We meet all the animals individually the cast bring the puppet animals to meet the audience and we were all encouraged to touch and interact with them. From Birds plumage and beak, Turtles shell and head and Monkeys fur and hands. It was lovely to watch the audience interact with the puppets and they really loved the bubble machine!
The animals then lose their home when the men in hard hats come and chop down all the trees and the story then shows us how the animals cope with the change and how home isn’t a place it is where your family and friends are.
This production is beautifully done, it’s thought provoking and it is one of the best pieces of inclusive theatre I have had the pleasure to watch.