THE Forum Theatre will be transformed into the jungle of Northwest India during the Raj for the latest production by the Malvern Theatre Players.

Rudyard Kipling's immortal Jungle Book will be brought to the stage by Malvern's resident amateur company, complete with all the animal favourites and plenty of audience participation for those still in the panto spirit.

The Jungle Book tells the story of Mowgli the jungle boy who, having escaped from Shere Khan the tiger, is reared by a family of wolves and taught the jungle law by Baloo the bear and Bagheera the black panther. We follow Mowgli's adventures until the time comes for him to return to the world of Man. But Mowgli has not finished with the jungle, for one day he returns to exact his terrible revenge on Shere Khan.

The production is directed by Andrew Howie. Although an experienced director with many productions to his credit, this will be Andrew's first production as director for the Players.

"I've always loved Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Books, since I first read them as a boy many years ago. As anyone who read the books will know, Disney "Americanised" and sanitised the stories, cutting out any hint of the true brutal nature of the jungle. We've tried to recapture the original spirit of the stories about Mowgli."

The costumes are designed by students from Worcester College of Technology, School of Art and Design as part of their HND costume and make-up course.

The Jungle Book runs at Malvern Theatres from next Thursday until Saturday, January 21. Adults are £8.50, children are £5.50 and tickets can be booked from the box office on 01684 892277 or on-line at www.malvern-theatres.co.uk.