The National Theatre has announced full casting for Anupama Chandrasekhar’s new stage adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s classic family tale, The Jungle Book. Directed by Indhu Rubasingham, the world premiere features Olivier Award-winning actor Hiran Abeysekera starring as Mowgli, alongside innovative puppetry created by Lume’s Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell. The production plays on the Olivier stage from Friday 13 November 2026 to Saturday 6 February 2027, with a press night scheduled for Monday 30 November.
Abeysekera leads an ensemble of 30 performers, including Ayesha Dharker as Raksha and Messua, Tony Jayawardena as Moti, Kel Matsena as Shere Khan, Sifiso Mazibuko as Akela, Ankur Bahl as Kaa and Bijoy, and Lucca Chadwick-Patel as A and Chottu. The rotating cast portraying the central animal roles includes Azan Ahmed and Sebastian Charles sharing Baloo, alongside Sarah Amankwah and Laura Cubbit sharing Bagheera.
Director Indhu Rubasingham expressed her delight at bringing the production to life, recalling her own childhood memories of seeing the story on screen. She noted that Chandrasekhar’s script draws deeply on India's rich storytelling heritage, supported by a cinematic orchestral score composed by Fernando Velázquez and world-class British puppetry design.
Set within the mangroves of the Sundarbans, the play follows young Mowgli as he grows up among the wild kingdom's wolves, birds, and tigers. Facing threats lurking in the shadows, the young hero must discover his identity and where he truly belongs to protect his home. The project was developed through an International Artist Residency at the National Theatre Studio supported by the CHANEL Culture Fund, with major production support provided by the Bagri Foundation and Kusuma Trust.
The creative team includes set and costume designer Rajha Shakiry, movement director Finn Caldwell, lighting designer Oliver Fenwick, video designer Ash J Woodward, and sound designer Benjamin Grant. Tickets for the family production, recommended for ages seven and above, are available directly through the National Theatre website.
