The Apollo Youth Theatre has a treat in store for all the family during the half-term holiday. The award-winning local theatre company, brimming with young talent from across the island, is bringing The Jungle Book to the stage. Apollo will bring their own unique take on this family favourite with a brand-new adaptation that keeps Kipling’s rich language and balances the dark original storyline with fun, toe-tapping new songs. All your favourite characters are on stage: Baloo the bear, Bagheera the panther, and of course the villainous Shere Khan. We also meet characters like Ikki the porcupine and Mao the peacock, who bring their humour to this stage performance.
There are afternoon and evening performances from Friday 23rd October through to Sunday 1st November.
Not only have the youth theatre been working hard for this, but this production has also been an opportunity for the Apollo Theatre to go out into the community and do outreach work, giving more children the chance to take part. Lanesend and Medina schools have had dance teachers running after-school clubs, and the children will be taking part in scenes in the show.
There is an opportunity for children aged 8 – 12 who would like to take part to attend free workshops on Sunday 25th and Monday 26th October, 10 – 4 pm.
There is also a dedicated workshop for all island Brownies on Monday 19th October, 10 – 4 pm, so that members can gain their performer’s badge.
In these workshops, the children learn acting and dancing and take part in 3 scenes in one of the public performances.
Mish Whitmore, the youth theatre director, said, “I 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”.
Tickets for the performance are available from the Apollo Theatre website
If parents would like to book their children onto the free workshops or would like further information, WhatsApp Mish on 07941102339 or email apolloyouththeatre@gmail.com.
