Children from across the Isle of Wight are being given the chance to take to the stage in a production of The Jungle Book this October half-term, with free acting and dancing workshops offering youngsters the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience.
The award-winning Apollo Youth Theatre is bringing a brand-new adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s family favourite to the stage, with performances running from 23rd October to 1st November.
The production promises a fresh take on the classic tale, combining Kipling’s original language and darker storyline with fun, toe-tapping new songs.
Familiar characters including Baloo the bear, Bagheera the panther and the villainous Shere Khan will all feature, alongside lesser-known characters such as Ikki the porcupine and Mao the peacock.
As part of the production, the Apollo Theatre has been reaching out into the local community to give more children the chance to experience live theatre.
Pupils from Lanesend Primary School and Medina College have been taking part in after-school dance clubs led by specialist teachers, with the youngsters set to appear in scenes during the show.
There is now an opportunity for even more children aged 8-12 to get involved, with free workshops taking place on Sunday (25th October) and Monday (26th October) from 10:00-16:00.
Those attending will learn acting and dancing skills before taking part in 3 scenes during one of the public performances.
A separate workshop is also being held for Isle of Wight Brownies on Monday (19th October), from 10:00-16:00, giving members the opportunity to earn their Performer’s Badge.
Mish Whitmore, Youth Theatre Director, has said:
“We thought this would be a great opportunity to give children a taste of what it’s like to take part in a production in a theatre.
“My practice is all about community performance and its effects. Theatre is one of those things that comes with huge barriers, and I want to create opportunities to break those down, to attract new audiences, to give children opportunities they may not otherwise have, and to give families a shared memory, and to make the child the focus for the day in what can be extremely busy and difficult lives.
“I would recommend kids come and give it a go and their family can watch what they have achieved. It’s all completely free to take part, and all costumes etc. are provided.”
Afternoon and evening performances of The Jungle Book will take place throughout the run.
Tickets can be purchased through the Apollo Theatre’s online booking page.
Parents wishing to book their children onto the free workshops, or seeking further information, can WhatsApp Mish on 07941 102339 or email [email protected].
