It’s a jungle out there

A Darlinghurst Theatre production called The Jungle will dissect the underbelly of our society this month, revealing the confronting nature of Sydney in the mid-’90s.
This Louis Nowra script offers a peep-show glance into the world of rock stars, drug dealers, bent cops, prostitutes and opera-goers, who live in the notorious suburb of King Cross.
The play also explores how HIV/AIDS was dealt with at the time.
The Jungle is essentially about the possibility of hope and love out of even the most desperate circumstances, director Alex Galeazzi said. It explores the idea that everyone’s lives are interconnected in some unexpected way and that human beings have the ability to use each other to get where and what they want.
Nowra has a unique ability to infuse highly dramatic moments with achingly funny humour. The Jungle will have you laughing hysterically while being confronted by the potency of the drama.
The show stars Kelly Butler known for her roles in Love My Way, All Saints and Matrix Reloaded. The Jungle’s cast of nine actors share 29 roles between them.
Laced with black humour, the play’s characters include a bitchy rock’n’roll diva named Cynthia, her long-suffering gay assistant Vince, a speed- and whisky-fuelled cop and a tough young prostitute.
Direction-wise, I’m aiming for a fast-paced, funny and highly theatrical rollercoaster ride and having a large cast of superb actors who play several roles each is a unique theatrical factor, he said.
With this production we have focused on infusing Nowra’s layered characters with a resonating truth, allowing them to be the focus of the work. Nowra has cleverly weaved interconnecting stories between the characters within the piece

info: The Jungle is now playing at Darlinghurst Theatre. Bookings on 8356 9987.