PLoT Production Archive
The Jungle Book (2005)
A play by Rudyard Kipling
Directed by Alex Rigozzi
Date of production: 10-14 May, 2005
Venue: Studio Theatre
"The Jungle Play" was discovered among Kipling's papers at the University of Sussex Library almost 100 years after it was written. Based on the original stories of "The Jungle Books", we have been unable to find evidence of another theatre company producing Rudyard Kipling's own adaptation. For all we know this could be a world premiere.
Reviews: "Director Alex Rigozzi has wisely chosen to preserve the thees and thous in Kipling's script where they complement its plentiful poetry. And he establishes continuing tension in the opening scenes by the scarcely hidden menace of the wolves who move as one with a lupine lope and who don't move so much as an eyebrow when they are still. All of his animals are neatly differentiated - Bagheera (Annika Boulanger-Mashberg) is completely feline as a panther, Steven Jones is lethally relaxed as the tiger Shere Khan and Megan Williams is tense and caring as the mother wolf. In the central role Davey gives a strong, edgy performance as Mowgli, and is well supported by "humans" Carl Fordham as the camp, cowardly Budleo, Loren Mathewson as the tender Duhlia, and Brockie and Kidd" ("Where human meets animal" - First Night with Wal Eastman, The Mercury, 11 May 2005).
Cast:
- Ryan Davey - Mowgli
- Ben Cannon - Monkey
- Ziggy - Monkey
- Wes Jeffries - Monkey
- Abbey Gates - Baloo
- Annika Boulanger-Mashberg - Bagheera
- Owen Tubb - Akela
- Megan Williams - Mother Wolf; Raksha
- Angela Cole - Tabaqui, Villager
- Steven Jones - Shere Khan
- Jason Wright - Grey Brother
- Loren Mathewson - Dulia
- Damian Brockie - Rawal
- Anna Kidd - Messua
- Carl Fordham - Buldeo
- Oisin Collins - Wolf; Kippy, Villager
- Ness Chapman - Wolf; Siva
- Jo Longbottom - Wolf; Mottle
- Will Longbottom - Wolf; Amadeus
Production manager: Will Longbottom
Assistant production manager: Jo Longbottom
Stage manager: Siobhan Paterson
Publicity: Ben Cannon
Set manager: Damian Brockie
Make-up: Adrienne Schoe, Lizz Smith
Properties: Damian Brockie, Jess Dix
Lighting: Adriene Schoe, Jess Dix
Poster design: Maddy Parsons
Program design: Fiona Gregory, Jess Dix
Sponsors: Tasmania University Union, Gareth Keys, Jason Eales, Fiona Gregory, Heather Manwaring, Fancy Francis Costume Hire, Sara Catchpole, Christina Marsden, Regent Street Meats, UTAS English Department, Gilbert & Sullivan Society, Paul Vickers, Hobart Resource Tip Shop, Bob Parker, Anglesea Barracks, Daryl Peebles, John Xintavelonis, Alex Dick, Production Works