THE JUNGLE BOOK swings back to Oldham Coliseum this Easter

Oldham Coliseum presents a musical adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s famous story The Jungle Book from 7-24 April.

Join Mowgli the man cub, his wolf pack and his friends Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther in this classic coming of age story; packed with memorable songs, humour and brilliant storytelling. Can Mowgli outwit the cruel and powerful tiger Shere Khan? With the help of his friends he learns the law of the jungle and confronts the dangers in his path.

Performed by a cast of seven talented actors, The Jungle Book explores the universal themes of family, belonging and identity.

First programmed for Spring 2020, The Jungle Book was in rehearsals when theatres across the UK closed their doors on 16 March 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic.

The stage-musical of The Jungle Book was adapted by Olivier award winning writer Jessica Swale, with songs by Joe Stilgoe and is directed at the Coliseum by Sarah Punshon, designed by Katie Scott, with musical direction by Tayo Akinbode and movement direction by Stuart Bowden. The design of the Coliseum’s production is a meeting of worlds, set in an ‘urban jungle’ playground upon which the cast will climb and swing throughout the play.

The cast features Tamara Verhoven Clyde as Akela the wolf leader, Kaa the snake and Leela the wolf cub, Ebony Feare as Mowgli’s wolf mother Raksha, Neil Hurst as Baloo the bear, Jason Patel as Mowgli and Tarek Slater as Mowgli’s wolf father Hiran and Mugger the monkey – all returning to rehearsals from 2020, plus new members of the company for 2022: Gareth Morgan as Shere Khan the tiger and Sam Yetunde as Bagheera the panther.

Director Sarah Punshon said: “We’re all so excited to get our teeth back into this fantastic story. We were having so much fun two years ago: the adaptation is so joyful and funny, the songs so catchy, and Katie’s design so much fun to swing about in! I’m delighted that so many of the original cast have been able to come back; and thrilled to be working with Gareth and Sam as our new Shere Khan and Bagheera. It’s going to be a blast!”

The Jungle Book is the first family show that the Coliseum has produced outside of the festive season for over a decade. The theatre is famous for its annual pantomime and is building upon this with another joyous theatre experience for all ages.

For more information and to book tickets, please click here.