GET set for a wild old time next week at Malvern Theatres; in fact it’s bear necessity.

A spokesman said: “Children’s Touring Partnership and Royal and Derngate, Northampton are delighted to announce a new adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s family classic, The Jungle Book.

“Originally written in 1894, Kipling’s beloved tale will be reimagined with a brand new score and script, exploring the universal themes of family, belonging and identity.”

The story tells of Mowgli “the man cub who battles for survival in this heart-warming coming-of-age story about a boy raised by wolves in the jungle”.

The spokesman added: “With the help of his animal friends, including Bagheera the panther, Balloo the bear and Kaa the python, Mowgli outwits the cruel and powerful tiger, Shere Khan, and learns the law of the jungle.

“Cast includes Rachel Dawson as ‘Kaa Grey’, Lloyd Gorman as ‘Shere Khan’, TJ Holmes as ‘Hiran’, Avita Jay as ‘Raksha’, Keziah Joseph as ‘Mowgli’, Dyfrig Morris as ‘Balloo’, Deborah Oyelade as ‘Bagheera’ and Tripti Tripuraneni as ‘Akala’.

“The award winning creative team bringing Kipling’s timeless story to the stage includes playwright Jessica Swale, director Max Webster and internationally renowned songwriter Joe Stilgoe.”

Jessica Swale explained: “I jumped at the chance to adapt The Jungle Book because it’s such a vivid world; yet, for a writer, there’s so much opportunity to imagine the jungle afresh. Part of the book’s enduring appeal is that the jungle can be anything we choose. It’s a playground, a school, a hideaway, an adventure, so I’ve enjoyed exploring what sort of place this mysterious, delightful, sometimes scary place might be- and what better way to do that than with Max Webster, one of the most inventive and imaginative directors working today. I loved the characters as Kipling wrote them, but wanted to find new voices which resonate now.”

The Jungle Book comes to Malvern Theatres from March 13 to March 17.

Tickets 01684 892277.