Award-winning Jungle Book adaptation set for Tamworth park
An award-winning adaptation of classic tale The Jungle Book will be brought to life in a Tamworth park this spring in the first instalment of outdoor theatre to feature in the town’s 2016 calendar of events.
Tamworth’s Misnomer Theatre – a spin-off from the popular Tamworth Pantomime Company – will be bringing its own version of the story to the Castle Grounds for an evening performance on Saturday June 18 at 6pm.
The company’s adaptation of the Rudyard Kipling tale has made it through to the semi finals of the All England Theatre Festival after winning the award for Best Original Script in the quarter finals. Members of the group are now looking forward to performing the play more widely in front of Tamworth audiences.
Company manager Alex Farrell said: “This play is one of the best shows I have ever been part of. Our adaptation is more in keeping with the original Rudyard Kipling script and
addresses some serious themes while also harking back to the cartoon film with some subtle, yet comic, references.
“We have a very strong adult cast as well as a talented 10-year-old boy playing Mowgli which makes the whole world of the jungle come to life.”
The colourful and moving one-act play explores the struggles faced by Bagheera the panther and Baloo the bear as they try to return Mowgli to the ‘man village’. They are faced with the terrifying Kaa - the enormous snake who almost eats them whole - and the ferocious Shere Khan who spends his time hunting down anything human.
The Jungle Book is ideal entertainment for family audiences, and at just 45 minutes long, it is definitely time well spent.
Misnomer Theatre is an award-winning production company specialising in plays. It was formed in 2011 as a spin off to Tamworth Pantomime Company and prides itself on using local actors in all of its productions. Many cast members are volunteers and have other careers. It has won more than a dozen awards in the All England Drama Festival to date.
Gates for The Jungle Book open 45 minutes before the performance starts and audience members are invited to take picnics and blankets, but are asked not to take any glass items or gazebos. No alcohol is to be taken on site but a licensed bar will be available.
Tickets cost £6 and £4 concessions and must be purchased in advance. Children under the age of two get in free of charge but still need a ticket. Tickets are available online at www.tamworthartsandevents.co.uk, in person from Tamworth Tourist Information Centre in Corporation Street or by calling the Box Office on 01827 709618. A transaction fee of £1 is payable on all online and telephone bookings.
Another helping of outdoor theatre will be served up in the community location of Dosthill Park with a production of Danny, the Champion of the World. The Roald Dahl classic will be brought to life by the award-winning open-air theatre company Illyria at 3pm on Saturday July 2.
The performance follows the successful production of Beatrix Potter’s Tales of Benjamin Bunny last summer which was the first show to be staged in the community setting of Dosthill Park.
Tickets for Danny, the Champion of the World, cost £8 and £6 concessions.
