Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book has been adapted into almost everything – animated film, live-action blockbuster, stage musical. But this is something different. The National Theatre‘s new production, opening at the Olivier in November 2026, is a serious theatrical reimagining by Anupama Chandrasekhar – an Indian playwright from Chennai who has rooted the story in the Sundarbans of the Indian subcontinent rather than Kipling’s more generalised imagined jungle. The result is a Jungle Book that feels contemporary and culturally specific, built on extraordinary puppetry and performed by one of the most impressive ensemble casts the NT has assembled in years.
It runs from 13 November 2026 to 6 February 2027 – making it the National’s major family production for the Christmas and winter season. Here is what you need to know.
About The Jungle Book at the National Theatre
The production is adapted by Anupama Chandrasekhar from the original Kipling stories, and directed by Indhu Rubasingham – the National Theatre’s Artistic Director. The setting is the Sundarbans: the vast mangrove delta stretching across India and Bangladesh, one of the most biodiverse – and endangered – landscapes on earth. Wolves howl, birds soar, tigers roar, and somewhere in the middle of it all, a human child named Mowgli is growing up.
Mowgli is played by Hiran Abeysekera, who won the Olivier Award for Best Actor for his performance in Life of Pi – the West End production that combined extraordinary storytelling with groundbreaking puppetry. That puppetry legacy continues here: Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell of Lume create the animals of the jungle, Nick Barnes having worked on the puppetry in Life of Pi. Set and costumes are by Rajha Shakiry, music by Fernando Velázquez, and lighting by Oliver Fenwick.
The show is suitable for ages 7 and above. The NT notes it contains depictions of death and violence – worth knowing before you bring younger children.
The cast
Hiran Abeysekera plays Mowgli. The wider ensemble includes Sarah Amankwah, Kazeem Tosin Amore, Darcy Braimoh, Sebastian Charles, Laura Cubitt, Fred Davis, Ayesha Dharker, Ali Goldsmith, Valentine Hanson, Romina Hytten, Tony Jayawardena, Avye Leventis, Shaun Yusuf McKee, Kel Matsena, Sifiso Mazibuko, Jordan Metcalfe and Sharita Oomeer.
Tickets and prices
Ticket prices vary by date:
- Previews (13-19 November): £20, £27, £36, £50, £65
- Monday-Thursday (standard): £25, £36, £51, £72, £93
- Friday and Saturday, plus Monday-Thursday 21-31 December: £25, £41, £62, £82, £105
- A £4 booking fee applies per order online and by phone (free for NT members)
Preview tickets (13-19 November) are the most affordable way to see the production. Weekday evening performances outside December are also significantly cheaper than Friday and Saturday shows.
Early evening performances
The following performances have a 6:30pm start time, making them better suited to families with younger children or anyone wanting to get home earlier: Tuesday 8 December, Thursday 17 December, Tuesday 5 January, Tuesday 12 January, Thursday 28 January, and Tuesday 2 February.
Accessible performances
- Captioned: Tuesday 15 December (7pm) and Wednesday 20 January (7pm)
- Audio Described: Saturday 19 December (1:30pm), Friday 8 January (7pm), Saturday 30 January (1:30pm)
- BSL Interpreted: Saturday 23 January (1:30pm)
- Relaxed: Saturday 16 January (1:30pm)
Getting to The Jungle Book at the National Theatre
The National Theatre is on the South Bank at Upper Ground, London SE1 9PX. The closest stations are Waterloo (5 minutes on foot) and Southwark (10 minutes). The building is directly on the Thames, between Waterloo Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge, and easy to approach on foot from either side of the river.
Before or after the show: Draughts Waterloo
If you are making a full evening of it – or building a family day out around The Jungle Book – Draughts is the ideal stop before or after your performance. We are a board game kitchen and bar with over 1,000 games available to play: arrive, choose something from the library, order food and drinks, and stay as long as you like.
For families coming to see The Jungle Book, we recommend the early evening performances (6:30pm start) as they leave more time for dinner and games beforehand without rushing. Our team is always happy to find something that works for the ages in your group – whether that means a quick family game before you head to the theatre, or a full afternoon of play starting from when the doors open.
Book a table at draughtslondon.com.
Board games to play after The Jungle Book
If you want to keep the adventure going, here are some games that work brilliantly for families who have just seen The Jungle Book:
- Survive: Escape from Atlantis – dramatic, high-stakes, each player for themselves. Produces exactly the same tension as the jungle. Suitable from around 8 years old.
- Mysterium – a cooperative ghost story told through dreamlike images. Atmospheric, imaginative, and works for a wide age range.
- Ticket to Ride – build railways across a map, collect routes, compete without confrontation. Accessible from 8 years old and plays in around 45 minutes.
- Pandemic – save the world from four diseases working together as a team. The cooperative mechanic works particularly well for families who want to play against the game rather than each other.
- Dixit – storytelling with surreal illustrated cards. Young children can play alongside adults, and the game rewards imagination over strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does The Jungle Book open at the National Theatre?
The Jungle Book opens at the National Theatre on Friday 13 November 2026, with a preview period running from 13-19 November. The production plays at the Olivier Theatre through to Saturday 6 February 2027.
Who plays Mowgli in the National Theatre’s Jungle Book?
Mowgli is played by Hiran Abeysekera, who won the Olivier Award for Best Actor for his performance in Life of Pi at the West End’s Wyndham’s Theatre. He heads a large ensemble cast that includes Ayesha Dharker, Tony Jayawardena, Laura Cubitt, Kel Matsena and Sifiso Mazibuko, among others.
Who directs The Jungle Book at the National Theatre?
The production is directed by Indhu Rubasingham, the National Theatre’s Artistic Director. The script is adapted by Anupama Chandrasekhar – an award-winning Indian playwright from Chennai – from the original stories of Rudyard Kipling. Puppetry is by Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell of Lume, the company behind the animals in Life of Pi.
How much are tickets for The Jungle Book at the NT?
Ticket prices depend on the date. Preview performances (13-19 November) start from £20. Standard Monday-Thursday performances start from £25, with prices up to £93. Friday and Saturday performances, plus weekday shows in the December holiday period (21-31 December), are priced from £25 up to £105. A £4 booking fee per order applies for online and phone bookings.
What age is The Jungle Book suitable for?
The National Theatre recommends The Jungle Book for ages 7 and above. The production contains depictions of death and violence, so it may not be suitable for more sensitive younger children. There is a relaxed performance on Saturday 16 January 2027 (1:30pm) for anyone who would benefit from a less formal theatre experience.
Is The Jungle Book at the NT good for families?
Yes – it is the National Theatre’s flagship family production for the 2026/27 winter season, designed to work for adults and children seeing it together. The production features extraordinary live puppetry and is set in the Sundarbans – a real and spectacular landscape. For families making a full day out of it, we recommend combining your NT visit with time at Draughts, where you can play board games before or after the show. Book a table at draughtslondon.com.
What is The Jungle Book about at the National Theatre?
The National Theatre production is adapted from Rudyard Kipling’s original Jungle Book stories by Indian playwright Anupama Chandrasekhar. The story follows Mowgli – a human child raised by wolves in the Sundarbans jungle – as he navigates the animal world and the threat posed by the tiger Shere Khan. The adaptation is rooted in the specific geography and ecology of the Sundarbans, the vast mangrove delta on the India-Bangladesh border, and features extraordinary live puppetry by Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell.
Are there early evening performances of The Jungle Book at the NT?
Yes. Several performances have a 6:30pm start time, making them more suitable for families with younger children or those who need to get home earlier. These are: Tuesday 8 December, Thursday 17 December, Tuesday 5 January, Tuesday 12 January, Thursday 28 January, and Tuesday 2 February. Most other performances are at 7pm or 1:30pm (matinees).
How long is The Jungle Book at the National Theatre?
The National Theatre has not yet published the official running time. Based on comparable NT productions of this scale, expect a running time of around 2 hours 30 minutes including an interval. We will update this when confirmed timings are available.
Are there accessible performances of The Jungle Book at the NT?
Yes. Captioned performances are on Tuesday 15 December (7pm) and Wednesday 20 January (7pm). Audio Described performances are on Saturday 19 December (1:30pm), Friday 8 January (7pm), and Saturday 30 January (1:30pm). A BSL Interpreted performance is on Saturday 23 January (1:30pm). A Relaxed performance is on Saturday 16 January (1:30pm). For audio described performances, a Touch Tour is available 90 minutes before the performance – book via the NT Access line on 020 7452 3961.
What else is on at the National Theatre in 2026?
Alongside The Jungle Book, the National Theatre’s 2026/27 season includes a number of major productions. Check the NT website at nationaltheatre.org.uk for the full programme. Other productions playing at the NT during this period include War Horse (Olivier Theatre) and Some Woman with Anne-Marie Duff.
Where can I get food and drinks near the National Theatre?
The National Theatre itself has several eating and drinking options including the Lasdun Restaurant, Forza Wine, The Understudy bar and a Grind coffee shop. For a proper pre-show dinner and games experience, Draughts is an excellent option – board games, food and cocktails in a relaxed setting. Book a table at draughtslondon.com.
What board games are good for families who enjoyed The Jungle Book?
For families who enjoyed The Jungle Book, we recommend adventure and storytelling games that work across different ages. Survive: Escape from Atlantis is a dramatic survival game suitable from around 8 years old. Dixit is a beautiful storytelling game that works for mixed age groups. Mysterium is a cooperative atmospheric game with extraordinary illustrated artwork. Pandemic is excellent for families who want to play together against the game. All of these are available at Draughts.
Is The Jungle Book at the NT a musical?
The National Theatre’s production is not a traditional musical. It features original music by composer Fernando Velázquez, but it is primarily a play with a strong theatrical and visual language built around extraordinary puppetry and storytelling. It is different in character to the Disney animated film or the 2016 live-action film, and closer in spirit to productions like Life of Pi – which also used innovative live puppetry to tell an epic human story.
