THE LOWRY, SALFORD – SATURDAY 13TH MAY 2023
REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN
4****
Akram Khan’s much anticipated production of Jungle Book Reimagined, follows close on the heels of his 2021 production of Creature, an unearthly tale of exploitation and human frontiers. Jungle Book Reimagined, which had its world premiere in Leicester last year prior to the UK tour, is his new work based on the much-loved children’s classic by Rudyard Kipling. Akram has reinterpreted this original story from a different perspective; a cautionary tale of the footprint mankind leaves behind in nature, both in the cruel treatment of animals and the impact of climate change on our planet.
Jungle Book Reimagined tells the story of Mowgli, a young girl separated from her family following a global climate event. She ends up in an abandoned city overrun by animals, some escaped from zoos, testing labs and circuses. As in Kipling’s story Mowgli is initially adopted by the wolves Rama and Raksha, she befriends Bagheera an albino panther and Baloo an escaped dancing bear, who are put in charge of keeping her safe. But when Mowgli is kidnapped by the devious Bandar-log, escaped laboratory monkeys, Bagheera and Baloo join forces with the feared rock python Kaa to rescue their human friend. A more dangerous threat, though, lies in wait.
The complex storytelling is delivered in several ways by using effective multimedia. Art Director and Director of Animation, Adam Smith and Producer/Director of Video Design Nick Hillel, both of YeastCulture worked with Khan on DESH and their black and white digital animations projected on two semi-translucent screens at the front and back of the stage, adds a 3D depth and an immersive quality to what we see and to the story.
As well as Mowgli’s thoughts, we listen to the animals speak through the voiceover, giving it the magic touch of a storybook.
Khan’s choreography is imaginative and powerful, the 10 dancers are superbly coordinated and impressive, contorting themselves into a variety of shapes to represent wolves, panthers, bears and monkeys. The emotional essence is felt through the evocative score by Jocelyn Pook.
Not every story has a Disney ending and there is an important message at its core, this is a theatrical experience not to be missed.