[Edward Baker | Broadway World]
Following a sell-out, critically acclaimed national tour, Metta Theatre’s hip-hop and circus adaptation of JUNGLE BOOK transfers to London Wonderground at Southbank Centre. Poppy Burton-Morgan’s acclaimed production with thrilling choreography from ZooNation/Birdgang Dance choreographer Kendra J Horsburgh sees Kipling’s original story played out through spectacular street dance and contemporary circus.
Politically provocative and visually spectacular, this is a form-breaking piece of hip-hop dance theatre.
Mowgli is played by Natalie Nicole James, aka ‘Broken Doll’ a dance-trapeze and hip-hop artist.
In this JUNGLE BOOK, young Mowgli is forgotten by the city suits (the ‘village’ of Kipling’s original) and is raised by the breakdancing Wolf crew. As she searches for her identity and belonging in the urban jungle, she discovers pole-dancing Snakes, gangsta rapper Tigers, a beat-loving bin man Baloo and a homeless Vulture spinning inside a giant coin (aerial hoop).