Saturday saw the Dornoch Firth Youth Theatre Group give two performances of the Jungle Book and what entertainment they brought!, As one audience member said afterwards, “It was fun, lively and had great audience participation.” The scene was set as narrator (Myla Skene) explained that the time was now and the setting an Indian jungle where a human baby had been abandoned. The cast of animals danced on to the stage to the life-affirming Born to be Wild.

This proved to be nothing more than an idyllic bubble about to be burst. Arkela (Alexandra Graham), the wolf leader, broke the terrible news. Lumberjacks (Fearne McKay, Amelia Rogers, Hope Tripney, Rosie Minty and Skye Hamilton) were destroying their jungle home at an alarming rate.

What was to be done? Even with the help of the Conscience Bird (Hollie Sangster) and her hauntingly beautiful singing, nothing moved the stone-hearted jungle destroyers. Having been rescued by the panther, Bagheera, (Grace Roughley), and brought up by the wolves, in desperation, the ten-year-old man-child Mowgli (Morven Cameron) was called upon to help. Nobody would listen.

The usual suspects, Ka, the snake (Lillie Tarry), the elephant, Colonel Harty (Rhian Sangster), Baloo the bear (Isla McCulloch), King Louis the orangutang (Sophie Ross), even Sher Khan the tiger (Izzie Munro) refused to see the danger until it was too late. Chainsaws and guns approached. Winifred (Lillie Brewer), Colonel Harty’s wife, recognised the danger, turned the elep.