The Jungle Book
by Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling - The Jungle Book
BBC Radio 5
"The Jungle Book" follows Mowgli, an Indian boy who is raised by wolves from infancy. He learns self-sufficiency and wisdom from the
jungle animals but this does not temper his escapades that reflect his fun-loving, daredevil spirit.
How could a human raised by wolves not be adventurous! Especially when his best friends are a wise bear named Baloo, the panther
Bagheera, and the python Kaa! Blessed with a quick wit, a sharp instinct and an optimistic outlook on life, Mowgli learns to overcome
adversity and survive in the jungle. This is particularly challenging with a tenacious enemy like Shere Khan, a Royal Bengal tiger. Mowgli
also has to defend himself against the Bandar-Log, or monkey people, who live in the forest treetops and pay no heed to the laws of the
jungle.
Mowgli's adventures unfold not only in the lush tropical forest, but also amidst the ruins of splendid Indian royal forts, temples, waterfalls
and the Waingunga River....
Dramatised by Michelene Wandor in five parts from Rudyard Kipling's short stories collection, "The Jungle Book", which were first
published in magazines in 1893/1894 before being collected and published in book form in 1894. This series was nominated for Best Radio
Dramatisation, Writers' Guild Award, 1994.
Music by John Mayer.
Directed by Chris Wallis.
1) 'The Law of the Jungle' (Monday 14th February 1994 @ 9:55 a.m.)
Shere Khan, the Royal Bengal tiger, is in search of prey. He has changed his hunting grounds and now will roam the hills occupied by
Akela's Wolf Pack. This night, Shere Khan is hunting humans. Being warned by the golden jackal, Tabaqui, of Shere Khan's approach, a
mother and father wolf, two members of the wolf pack, go out to investigate and are startled to see a naked human baby emerging from the
bush. The two decide to adopt him and because of his hairlessness, they name him 'Mowgli' (wolfish for 'Frog'). But will the Pack allow
them to keep him? Will Shere Khan allow them to keep his 'prey'?
With Nisha K. Nayer [Mowgli, the Jungle Boy], Eartha Kitt [Kaa, a Rock Python], Freddie Jones [Baloo, a Brown Bear], Jonathan Hyde
[Bagheera, a Black Panther], Sheehan Kahn [Mother Wolf, Mowgli's Adoptive Wolf Mother], Peter Whitman [Father Wolf, Mowgli's
Adoptive Wolf Father], Barry Woolgar [Shere Khan, a Royal Bengal Tiger], Malcolm Ward [Tabaqui, a Golden Jackal], and Peter
Marinker [Akela, the Wolf Pack Leader].
Other parts were played by members of the cast.
Re-broadcast on Sunday 23rd April 1995 @ 7:00 p.m. on BBC Radio 4
30 minutes
2) 'Tiger, Tiger' (Tuesday 15th February 1994 @ 9:55 a.m.)
After being saved from the Bandar-Log, or monkey people, by Kaa, Baloo, and Bagheera, Mowgli slowly learns the laws of the jungle.
But soon Shere Khan finds a way to force Mowgli to leave the jungle and live with humans for the first time.
With Nisha K. Nayer [Mowgli, the Jungle Boy], Eartha Kitt [Kaa, a Rock Python], Freddie Jones [Baloo, a Brown Bear], Jonathan Hyde
[Bagheera, a Black Panther], Peter Marinker [Akela, the Wolf Pack Leader], Sheehan Kahn [Mother Wolf, Mowgli's Adoptive Wolf
Mother], Barry Woolgar [Shere Khan, a Royal Bengal Tiger], Sam Dastor [Buldeo, the Village Hunter], Sheehan Khan [Messua, Mowgli's
Adoptive Human Mother], and Robert Glenister [Grey Brother, a Member of the Wolf Pack].
Re-broadcast on Sunday 30th April 1995 @ 7:00 p.m. on BBC Radio 4.
30 minutes.
3) 'Letting in the Jungle' (Wednesday 16th February 1994 @ 9:55 a.m.)
After Mowgli kills Shere Khan, the villagers chase him back to the jungle. But the human beings were not satisfied and now they want to
kill Mowgli. Mowgli rescues Messua, his adoptive mother, and meets the Father of Cobras, who guards the King's Treasure....
With Nisha K. Nayer [Mowgli, the Jungle Boy], Eartha Kitt [Kaa, a Rock Python], Jonathan Hyde [Bagheera, a Black Panther], Timothy
Bateson [Hathi, an Indian Elephant], Sheehan Khan [Messua, Mowgli's Adoptive Human Mother], Sheehan Kahn [Mother Wolf, Mowgli's
Adoptive Wolf Mother], Sam Dastor [Buldeo, the Village Hunter], Jonathan Tafler [The Old White Cobra, Father of Cobras], and Robert
Glenister [Grey Brother, a Member of the Wolf Pack].
Re-broadcast on Sunday 7th May 1995 @ 7:00 p.m. on BBC Radio 4.
30 minutes.
4) 'The Wild Dogs' (Thursday 17th February 1994 @ 9:55 a.m.)
After battling the Father of Cobras, Mowgli hears from Grey Brother that the Wild Dogs have come north and plan to take over the jungle
from the Wolf Pack. The Wolf Pack, young and old, only number 40 while the Wild Dogs number over 100 - all strong, adult hunters. With
the odds not looking good, Mowgli and Kaa plan a preemptive attack against the wild dogs....
With Nisha K. Nayer [Mowgli, the Jungle Boy], Eartha Kitt [Kaa, a Rock Python], Freddie Jones [Baloo, a Brown Bear], Jonathan Hyde
[Bagheera, a Black Panther], Robert Glenister [Grey Brother, a Member of the Wolf Pack], Jonathan Tafler [The Old White Cobra,
Father of Cobras], Peter Marinker [Akela, the Wolf Pack Leader], Melissa Sinden [The Bees], and Jonathan Tafler [The Wild Dog]
Re-broadcast on Sunday 14th May 1995 @ 7:00 p.m. on BBC Radio 4
30 minutes.
5) 'The Spring Running' (Friday 18th February 1994 @ 9:55 a.m.)
Mowgli leads the attack against his enemies, but realises the time has come for him to make a decision on which road he must choose.
With Nisha K. Nayer [Mowgli, the Jungle Boy], Eartha Kitt [Kaa, a Rock Python], Freddie Jones [Baloo, a Brown Bear], Jonathan Hyde
[Bagheera, a Black Panther], Robert Glenister [Grey Brother, a Member of the Wolf Pack], Peter Marinker [Akela, the Wolf Pack
Leader], Jonathan Tafler [The Wild Dog], Sheehan Khan [Messua, Mowgli's Adoptive Human Mother], and Melissa Sinden [The Bees].
Re-broadcast on Sunday 21st May 1995 @ 7:00 p.m. on BBC Radio 4.
30 minutes.
Jim
