Jungle fever spreads to Cardiff New Theatre this week as vines, fern and leaves in varying shades of green transform the stage into the setting for Birmingham Stage Company’s presentation of Rudyard Kipling’s classic The Jungle Book Following his abduction from the man village by the tiger Shere Khan, Young Mowgli is rescued and subsequently raised by a family of wolves. When Khan later threatens to kill Mowgli, both Baloo and Bagheera show the boy the ways of jungle life in a hope that he will be able to protect himself. There is a further twist when Mowgli returns to the man village and finds himself as much a stranger to his own kind as he was to the beasts when he first arrived in the jungle.

This interpretation of Kipling’s classic tale has much in the way of audience interaction as well as songs including Pride and Power, I’m Coming After You and the very catchy Jungle Law.

Peter Sowerbutts portrayal of the wicked Shere Khan is sheer quality while Samuel Hargreaves wins hearts as the mischievous man cub Mowgli. Hargreaves raises many laughs from children when going through a rigorous training session with Rob Hughes gentle giant Baloo. There are also strong dual performances from Zephryn Taitte and Natasha Lewis while Craig Painting as Tabaqui the Jackal and Laura Waggott as Kaa the Queen Snake add further colour to the proceedings. The Jungle Book continues until Saturday 28 May and is an unmissable early half-term treat for all the family.