A high-energy, grime and hip-hop infused adaptation that shows just how important community is.
Over a century ago, Rudyard Kipling wrote The Jungle Book. A collection of stories about the animals living within a forest in India, and a boy or ‘man-cub’ named Mowgli. Since the stories were first written in 1894 they have seen countless adaptations, famously including multiple Walt Disney films. Although I’m not sure the story has ever has an urban makeover before… but here we are.
HighRise have reinvented the story – swapping the jungle for the harsh realities of city life. The show tackles topics including; gang crime, the housing crisis, the migrant crisis and homelessness. This makes it sound as if the show will be quite intense, but somehow it finds a perfect balance.
The Concrete Jungle Book played at the Edinburgh Festival in 2017 and had a limited run at The Pleasance last year. The show received critical acclaim and it is not difficult to see why. The show is a musical, but influenced by grime, rap, spoken word, reggae and hip hop – it’s a musical with a difference.
Unfortunately due to Covid cases within the company, the previews of the show which were due to take place last week, had to be cancelled. This meant that opening night was press night! And it wasn’t without its drama either, with the lead sustaining an injury on the day! But the whole company pulled together, covering roles as needed – and not one line or move was missed! I fully commend them for this as its no mean feat!
© Alex Brenner
As soon as we entered the Pleasance’s main house, there was hip-hop and grime music playing as we found our seats and a hype man warming us up ready for the show to begin. He announced to us that Priti Patel would be playing The Wizard of Oz in tonight’s performance!
We meet Mo, who was abandoned as a baby. The story follows Mo as she faces rejection from Bagheera, her big brother figure and runs away, sleeping rough on the streets. Lauryn Louise played Mo, due to Nicky Rose Roshini being indisposed. Louise’s voice is incredible and she really shined upon the stage. If you hadn’t been told, I think you would have assumed this was Louise’s usual role, with her performance coming across as effortless.
The best performances of the night for me, came from Joseph RA Lindsay, providing some gut-wrenching scenes and incredibly rapping skills. A special mention to Michael Mbozo is also deserved as he was hilarious in the role of Kaa and his musical talents are phenomenal. Oh and Jack Boal’s Louie Slippaz is incredibly funny!
To save opening night many roles had to be covered, which included Assistant Director Fahd Shaft stepping in to cover two ensemble tracks. This is the epitome of the show must go on, and we love to see it!
There were some aspects that require a bit of work, the sound tech missed the cues a few times, so the mics weren’t turned on when a cast member began rapping/ singing etc. And some of the vocals were flat at times, but with the amount that the company has contended with to make it to opening night, the benefit of the doubt is given here.
The costuming during the show was great, the outfits were subtle yet very effective. Throughout you knew exactly who the character was and the animal they were. Tracksuits were worn with ears or animal print to represent the animal being portrayed.
Where this production really wins is with the music. It was insanely good throughout the show, the grime tracks were especially good. The cast performed the music with high energy levels throughout and I would have purchased a cast recording immediately, had it been on offer.
The Concrete Jungle Book, is the classic tale as you’ve never seen it before. It’s mind boggling how a tale about jungle animals written in 1894 can be relatable to audiences in 2022. But this adaptation is fresh, high-energy and thought provoking. It tackles some massively important topics within the show, but ultimately provides a great fun night out, with incredible music! Hopefully this isn’t the last we see of HighRise’s show!
{🎟 AD PR invite}
TRAILER
2 Star Review 3 Star Review 4 Star Review 5 Star Review 2022 2023 Comedy Edinburgh Fringe Edinburgh Fringe Interviews Fringe Interviews Musical News Off West End Play Review Revival Touring Production VAULT Festival West End
- A PISSEDMAS CAROL – REVIEW – LEICESTER SQUARE
The infamous Sh!t Faced Showtime are back in London with a festive edition, they have taken Dickens’ classic and put a drunken spin on it. The formula is the same as other iterations of the Shi!t Faced shows, one member of the cast has been boozing, and this time it is John Milton who plays … More A PISSEDMAS CAROL – REVIEW – LEICESTER SQUARE - A CHRISTMAS CAROL – REVIEW – ALEXANDRA PALACE
Spine-tingling yet heart-warming, Mark Gatiss’s retelling of A Christmas Carol truly encapsulates the haunting atmosphere of a Victorian ghost story, balanced out with enough humour so as to capture the festive season. Led by Keith Allen as Scrooge, with Peter Forbes as Marley, this show is perfect for Christmas viewing. The set design by Paul Wills is instantly captivating, … More A CHRISTMAS CAROL – REVIEW – ALEXANDRA PALACE - A WOMAN WALKS INTO A BANK – REVIEW – THEATRE503
The title of this winner of Theatre 503’s 2023 International Playwriting Award by Roxy Cook may seem like the set-up to a joke, but the narrative that unspools is instead an affectionate, gently barbed and at base quite sobering portrait of three ordinary souls (and one restless feline) adrift in modern Moscow. There is much … More A WOMAN WALKS INTO A BANK – REVIEW – THEATRE503 - PETER PAN GOES WRONG – REVIEW – LYRIC THEATRE
Peter Pan Goes Wrong first premiered in London at the Pleasance Theatre in 2013, and earlier this year the show made its Broadway debut. Now the production is back in the West End for the Christmas season. Following on from The Play That Goes Wrong, in this production, J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan is staged by … More PETER PAN GOES WRONG – REVIEW – LYRIC THEATRE - GHOST STORIES BY CANDLELIGHT – REVIEW – SAM WANAMAKER PLAYHOUSE
Drawing heavily from the classic canon of the British supernatural, HighTide’s trio of contemporary Gothic narratives uses traditional storytelling formats to address contemporary themes. Directed by Elayce Ismail, reverent musical interludes accompany tales of apparitions and nighttime conjurings that speak of women from the East of England. Unfortunately, the effect is less chilling and more … More GHOST STORIES BY CANDLELIGHT – REVIEW – SAM WANAMAKER PLAYHOUSE