Young Vic’s The Jungle to transfer to the West End this summer
Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson's The Jungle is set to transfer to the West End at the Playhouse Theatre this summer.
The production, which ran at the Young Vic at the end of last year, is set on Europe's largest unofficial refugee camp in Calais, which was home to over 10,000 people in 2015. The piece, directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, tells the story of the camp's creation, the community it harboured, and its eventual destruction.
The Jungle will run at the Playhouse Theatre, which will see the stalls reconfigured to accommodate Miriam Beuther's set design as it was at the Young Vic, from 16th June to 3rd November with an official opening night on 5th July.
The piece was originally co-produced by the National Theatre and the Young Vic, in association with Good Chance Theatre. The cast will mostly consist of the original Young Vic cast which includes many actors of refugee backgrounds. The full cast includes: Ammar Haj Ahmad, Mohammad Amiri, Girum Bekele, Elham Ehsas, Trevor Fox, Moein Ghobsheh, Ansu Kabia, Alex Lawther, John Pfumojena, Rachel Redford, Rachid Sabitri, Mohamed Sarrar, Ben Turner and Nahel Tzegai.
David Lan, who recently left his post at the helm of the Young Vic after 18 years, said: "It was clear from the start that The Jungle would be one of the most provocative and significant shows we've produced. It tells a powerful real-life story that matters hugely to everyone.
"It's created and performed in an enthrallingly inventive way by some of those who lived it. Those who saw it at the Young Vic said they'd never seen anything like it - and that it was as if they'd been on the journey of a lifetime. I'm delighted it will now be seen by so many more."
The Jungle is at the Playhouse Theatre from 16th June to 3rd November.
Photo courtesy David Sandison
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