In the jungle, where life flows in accordance with rules of the animal kingdom, a human child appears unexpectedly. He’s discovered by Mother Wolf, who knows human nature all too well. But she decides to protect and raise the boy because "who knows, maybe this one will be different?" The boy grows up in the jungle. There’s no shortage of joy and adventures, yet despite this, something drives the young man to the city and human companionship. He decides to leave the jungle under the shadow of its ruler, Tiger. Although it appears like he’s found his place and home among humans, the boy’s heart still yearns for nature, animals, and the jungle.

"With this ballet, I want to address topics that I believe are still relevant today and will remain so for a long time. Nature, friendship, love, trust, hope, and above all – family. The boy doesn't quite fit in; not in the animal world, nor among humans. Where is his real home? And who is he, anyway? In this complex world we live in, we could all be asking similar questions," explains the ballet’s choreographer Raimonds Martinovs. He has created the characters and the plot for the ballet The Jungle Book by drawing inspiration from the English author Rudyard Kipling’s collection of stories, with music composed by Kārlis Lācis.

Ballet The Jungle Book is available for attendance from the age of 7, however, according to the choreographer's suggestion, we recommend attending it from the age of 10.

Synopsis

ACT I

Prologue
The Boy falls asleep while reading a book. Raven, the father of fate, leads him into the realm of dreams.

The Boy and the primates
The Boy wakes up in a dream. There, he suddenly encounters Bonobo, as though staring at his own reflection. Bonobo has brought a troop of primates with him. They marvel at The Boy who is so much like them and yet so very different.

Wolf Mother and The Boy
Wolf Mother can smell the presence of a human child and decides to take him under her wing.

Bonobo, The Boy, Bear, Panther, and Pig
Bonobo introduces The Boy to his best friends.

Tiger, jackals, friends, and The Boy
Tiger shows his dominance over other animals, fancying himself as the king of the jungle. Having smelled the human child, he launches at him. Wolf Mother interferes and bites off his ear. Tiger swears revenge.

The dance of the wolves. The Boy grows up and becomes The Lad
The Boy grows up during the dance of the wolves. As The Lad, he finally realises that the jungle is his true home… although something seems to be missing.

The Girl, Governess and The Lad
After their plane’s unexpected landing, The Girl and Governess find themselves in the jungle. They encounter the primates, The Lad and their jungle friends.

Their meeting scene

Going to the city
The Lad introduces the travellers to Wolf Mother and the other inhabitants of the jungle. Urged by The Girl, The Lad decides to embark on a journey to the city. Unbeknownst to him, Tiger has been following the events in secret.

ACT II

The Lad, Governess and Manners

The Girl and The Lad’s love duet

In the city
People are going about their business like they’re robots. Upon seeing The Lad, they figure he is so much like them and yet so very different.

The Girl and The Lad’s doubt duet
The Lad slowly comes to the realisation that he doesn’t belong in society. The Girl doesn’t want to accept the fact that The Lad’s place is in the jungle. Fruitlessly, she tries to convince him to stay in the city.

Bad news
Breathless, Bonobo finds The Lad and gives him Tiger’s ear. Sensing something sinister, The Lad rushes home.

The return. Tiger’s attack
The Lad arrives too late, realising that he’s failed to save Wolf Mother from Tiger’s claws.

The solo of trials
Loneliness, grief, anger, and despair.

The fight
Encouraged by his friends and animals, The Lad faces Tiger.

Epilogue
Tiger has been defeated, and the jungle is liberated. The Boy wakes up with the book in his hands, as the dream vanishes.