Jungle Book reimagined
Discover a new retelling of Kipling’s classic as the Akram Khan company transplant Mowgli’s journey into the modern world.
Following the success of 2018’s XENOS, internationally celebrated choreographer and International Festival favourite Akram Khan makes his return to the Festival Theatre, with a magical dance retelling of Kipling’s family classic.
Akram Khan and his team use dance-theatre to reinvent the journey of Mowgli through the eyes of a climate refugee. In a near future world, a family is torn apart as they escape their homeland, ravaged by the impact of extreme weather. Arriving alone in a deserted modern city, and with wild animals claiming the streets as their own, the child soon discovers unlikely allies in this strange new jungle.
Featuring an original score, ten international dancers and state-of-the-art animation and visuals, Jungle Book reimagined is a beautifully compelling and vital piece of storytelling.
It speaks to our intrinsic need to belong and bond with others, placing the importance of connecting with and respecting our natural world at its heart.
Jungle Book reimagined brings together a stellar creative team, with script by Tariq Jordan, dramaturgy by Sharon Clark and original score by Jocelyn Pook. With sound design by Gareth Fry, lighting by Michael Hulls, visual stage design by Miriam Buether and video design and animation by YeastCulture, the visual technology will turn the stage into a magical world that dives into the myths of today.
Recommended for all generations of audiences from 8 upwards.
A touch tour for this production is available before the 2.30pm performance on 28 August.
...feels like a blockbuster cinematic experience with a powerful message for us all. It’s truly exceptional.
Supported by Claire and Mark Urquhart
Akram Khan Company
Based on the book by Rudyard Kipling
An Edinburgh International Festival co-production
Akram Khan Director/Choreographer
Mavin Khoo Creative Associate/Coach
Tariq Jordan Writer
Sharon Clark Dramaturgical Advisor
Jocelyn Pook Composer
Gareth Fry Sound Designer
Michael Hulls Lighting Designer
Miriam Buether Visual Stage Designer
Adam Smith (YeastCulture) Art Direction and Director of Animation
Nick Hillel (YeastCulture) Producer/Director of Video Design
Naaman Azhari, Natasza Cetner, Edson R Bazzarin Rotoscope Artists/Animators
Nicky Henshall, Andrew Pan, Angela Towler Rehearsal Directors
Lucia Chocarro, Tom Davis-Dunn, Thomasin Gülgeç, Max Revell, Matthew Sandiford, Pui Yung Shum, Fukiko Takase, Holly Vallis, Vanessa Vince-Pang, Luke Watson, Jan Mikaela Villanueva (guest artist) Dancers
Farooq Chaudhry Producing Director
Isabel Tamen Executive Director
Mashitah Omar Project Manager
Co-produced by Curve Leicester, Birmingham Hippodrome, Edinburgh International Festival, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay Singapore, Festspielhaus St. Pölten, Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, Maison de la Danse / Pôle européen de création – Lyon, National Arts Centre – Canada, New Vision Arts Festival – Hong Kong, Orsolina28, Pfalzbau Bühnen – Theater im Pfalzbau Ludwigshafen, Romaeuropa Festival, Sadler’s Wells London, Stanford Live / Stanford University, Teatros del Canal – Madrid, théâtre de Caen, Théâtre de la Ville – Paris
With the support of Garfield Weston Foundation, Genesis Foundation and Angela Bernstein CBE
Supported by Arts Council England