Ju

Written by Rudyard Kipling, who lived in Portsmouth as a child after moving from India, his experiences in both India and Portsmouth – including Mrs Holloway who looked after him in Portsmouth, inspired the book and many of its characters.

Steve Arnold, best known for playing Ashley in Coronation Street, plays the part of Shere Khan.

Steve was nominated for Most Popular Actor at the National Television Awards in 2003 and has since gone on and done a wide variety of TV and Theatre appearances.

Prior to the show’s opening this week Steve said “I am really looking forward to working at Groundlings it is a beautiful theatre”

Leah Lloyd, pictured who stared as Cinderella at Groundlings pantomime this year and Gerda in Groundlings Snow Queen Leah will be playing Kaa in Jungle Book and is looking forward to being evil as she is always plays nice sweet parts.

Chevin Dash is Balloo, “I love the idea of his character. This is the second time I have performed at Groundlings the last time was as the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella.”

Jack Tutt as Bagheera, Jack has already had a varied career performing at the Donmar Warehouse in 2013 and at Manchester International Festival. He was also Buttons in Groundlings pantomime.

The show is produced and directed by Richard Stride whom is also the owner of the theatre and an accomplished actor performing in many roles such as Hamlet – Wind in the Willows and television Bad Girls and Footballers Wives and not forgetting Star Wars where he played Ewan Macgregar double.