THE Jungle Book is a dark tale of a boy, Mowgli (Elliot Swann), raised by wolves and mentored by Bagheera (Jack Tutt) and Baloo (Chevin Dash), who teach him jungle lore and morals about heroism, safety and friendship and protect him from the hypnotic Kaa (Leah Lloyd) and the arrogant Shere Khan (Steve Arnold of Coronation street fame, amongst other credits).

I took my four-year old son as my companion, wondering if a show could appeal to both of us.

The Groundlings Theatre is entrancing in itself, but the set was something else, given the complexities of the unique building. From the get-go the children were spellbound, despite the intricacies of the language.

That is testament to the performances, given in the round, with the audience both within and outside the action and the characters’ interactions with them.

The actors became the animals, with the wonderfully elaborate costumes and subtle make-up cleverly implying their origin, while highlighting they individuality.

Each animal told their story through movement and expression and the rich prose became a backdrop to the story.

The monkey’s antics were a firm favourite with the children, as was the mongoose, Rikki Tikki (Rachel Webb).

The adults appreciated the production on a different level but watched it equally wide-eyed.

This is a production with integrity and artistry that appeals to all ages, performed by a talented cast in a beautiful theatre. I will be beating my jungle drums about it for some time.