Barb Jungr was born inRochdale,Lancashire, England, to immigrant parents. Her father, Miroslav Jungr, was a Czech scientist who moved to Britain as a refugee afterWorld War II and after incarceration in German work camps. Her mother, Ingrid, was a German nurse. The eldest of three siblings, she grew up inStockport, Cheshire, where she attended Stockport Convent School for Girls before earning a degree fromLeeds University.
Arriving in London in the mid-1970s, Jungr worked with playwright Pam Gems and composer Paul Sand, appearing as the singer at theEdinburgh Festival production of Gem's playDead Fish, which becameDusa Fish Stas and Vi.[1] Jungr's first single was "He's Gone", as the Stroke,[2] released by CBS, was single of the week inNew Musical Express and was written and recorded with her husband Dan Bowling.
She formed the Three Courgettes with Michael Parker and Jerry Kreeger and performed new wave versions of gospel songs in the Kings Road and Portobello Market in the late 1970s. The band was discovered byIsland Records, then toured with Kid Creole and the Coconuts,Sade,Mari Wilson, andthe Jets.[3] The Three Courgettes recorded a Christmas song for Michael Zilkha'sA Christmas Record.
She formed the duo Jungr and Parker with blues guitarist Michael Parker. For thirteen years they performed internationally and appeared regularly on British television and radio. They hosted theBBC Radio 2 seriesWe Stayed in with...Jungr and Parker[4] with specials recorded at the Edinburgh Festival and produced by Sonia Beldom.[5] Jungr and Parker toured withAlexei Sayle andArnold Brown, with whom they won a Perrier Award in Edinburgh in 1987 at the Gilded Balloon Theatre,[6] and toured nationally and internationally withJulian Clary, appearing with him in the West End at theAldwych Theatre and on Channel 4 television inSticky Moments andTerry and Julian.
In 1991, Jungr and Parker performed in a Festival of European music inSudan funded by theBritish Council. The success of that trip led to them performing and giving workshops inCameroon,Tanzania,Malawi, andBurma. Jungr wrote about these experiences for theGuardian Diary,Folk Roots, andThe Singer, and in 1994 enrolled in a masters program atGoldsmiths College in ethnomusicology for which she received a Distinction. She specialised in the Voice and Singing.[7][8][9] During that time Jungr began to embark on solo shows, accompanied by Russell Churney, and started a solo career with the release the albumBare, which was recorded in a day, live at theConway Hall with the support of Overtones Studios.[10]
In the early 1990s, Jungr developed themed shows which have become her speciality: "Hell Bent Heaven Bound" (withIan Shaw,Christine Collister and Michael Parker) was Perrier Pick of the Fringe, "Money the Final Frontier" (with Helen Watson, Christine Collister and Michael Parker) was invited to the Canadian Music Festivals.[11]In 1998 she toured with the showSex, Religion and Politics directed by Julia Pascal, appearing at the 1998 Edinburgh Festival. With composerJames Tomalin she contributed "Jackie" to the Jacques Brel compilation album andFear of a Red Planet.[12]
In 1999, Jungr was invited to record for Linn Records inGlasgow. In 2000 Linn releasedChanson: The Space in Between, an album of English translations of classic French chansons. In 2002, she releasedEvery Grain of Sand, an album of arrangements of Bob Dylan's songs, followed byWaterloo Sunset in 2003.[13]
Appearing in a New York season at the Flea Theatre in 2002, she was given the Backstage Bistro Award in 2003 for Best International Artist.[14] In 2004 she recordedLove Me Tender, an album of songs recorded byElvis Presley for release in March 2005, followed byWalking in the Sun (2006) featuring guitaristEric Bibb.
In 2007, Jungr collaborated with British composer Mark Anthony Turnage, appearing with theLondon Sinfonietta in the commissioned pieceAbout Water at Queen Elizabeth Hall to celebrate the reopening of theFestival Hall.[15]
In 2008, she releasedJust Like a Woman – Hymn to Nina featuring the repertoire of Nina Simone and was given a Nightlife Award in New York in 2008 for Outstanding Cabaret Vocalist.[16]
In March 2010, she releasedThe Men I Love – The New American Songbook . She performed a second season at the Cafe Carlyle in the Carlyle Hotel in New York. In 2010 Jungr releasedMan in the Long Black Coat: Barb Jungr Sings Bob Dylan.[13] In 2012 she releasedStockport to Memphis.[17]
In March 2014, Jungr releasedHard Rain: the songs of Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen and toured the UK with a season at the 59E59 Theater in New York. The album won Best Cabaret CD from BroadwayWorld.com.[18]
Other collaborations include composer Jonathan Cooper on his "Moon Behind the Clouds" song cycle,[19] the cabaret showGirl Talk with Mari Wilson and Claire Martin, andGwyneth Herbert which toured intermittently for ten years[20] and the trioDurga Rising with tabla player Kuljit Bhamra and pianist Russell Churney.
During 2015, her collaborations included performances withJohn McDaniel on both sides of the Atlantic.[21]
In early 2016, Jungr was a featured artist in James Gavin'sLincoln Center songbook series celebratingPeggy Lee.[23] The following year, Jungr penned a short introduction forPlayerist Poetry Magazine for its themed edition on Music.
Jungr acted in British director Robina Rose's filmNightshift, playing the bar girl.[24] For Debbie Isitt's Snarling Beastie Theatre Company she composed music forThe Woman who Cooked Her Husband at the Royal Court Upstairs andMatilda Liar at the Tricycle Theatre. She appeared in Isitt's10 by 10 for BBC Television. In 2002 the British Council supported Jungr's three-week run at the Flea Theatre in New York.[14]
Jungr has presented, written, and researched many programmes for national BBC Radio 2, (three series of "We Stayed in with Jungr and Parker" and two Edinburgh Specials), BBC Radio 3 (For Heavy Entertainment two programmes on Persian music "Sweet Lips Dark Eyes" and two on Ethiopian music "Shaking Shoulders and Honey Beer" ),[25] BBC Radio 2 (writer and presenter of "The Hoppings" two-hour arts special for Soundbite Productions) and BBC Radio 4 (Malawi Diary producer Paul Dodgson) and in Canada for CBC, as a regular contributor toThe Global Village as well as contributing to many BBC arts programmes includingWoman's Hour,Kaleidoscope,Saturday Review,Saturday Live, andA Good Read.[26][27][28]
Jungr coached the young offenders in vocal delivery for Brian Hill's Bafta-winning filmFeltham Sings.[29] She created the voice course at London Metropolitan University and formed and ran the Raise the Roof Horseman Choir (which she founded) for several years.[30]
In 2012, she created the song cycle "Deep Roots Tall Trees" for the Core Theatre at Corby, with local musicians, songwriters, and poets, which culminated in a concert at Corby football ground in August 2014 incorporating local musicians, the Deep Roots Tall Trees Choir, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Antony Weedon. This concert started the Made in Corby Arts Council England initiative.[31]
Cinderella (2005), (lyricist), Jack and the Beanstalk (2006), (composer and lyricist), and Beauty and the Beast (2007), (composer and lyricist). Director (all) – Cal McCrystal, Pantomimes (Newbury Corn Exchange)
The Ballad of Norah's Ark – songs Barb Jungr and Russell Churney, book Barb Jungr and Andy Goldberg, from original idea by Barb Jungr. In development in northeast England, previous workshops and readings in New York and London. Performed by the Billingham Players in June 2011.[32]
The Jungle Book (lyricist) – Birmingham Stage Company, toured again 2011/12[33]
The Fabulous Flutterbys (2010) – (book, composer and lyricist), Produced by the Little Angel Puppet Theatre in spring 2010.[34]
Liver Birds Flying Home - Liver Birds Flying Home opened at The Royal Court Liverpool in April 2018 with lyrics Barb Jungr music Mike Lindup of Level 42, and book by Barb Jungr, George Seaton and Linda McDermott. Produced by The Royal Court Liverpool and James Seabright Productions with George Seaton, directed by Benji Sperring.[35]
Chocolate Cake - Based on best-selling children's author Michael Rosen's poem, co-adapted by director Peter Glanville and Barb Jungr with music and songs by Barb Jungr, Chocolate Cake opened at Polka Children's Theatre in March 2018 and toured spring and summer 2018.[36]
How To Hide A Lion - Opened in autumn 2016 at Polka Children's Theatre then played at The Little Angel Theatre, Islington and Oxford Playhouse. Produced by Polka Theatre and Oxford Playhouse. Directed by Peter Glanville, with songs and music Barb Jungr. The show toured nationally with Pigtail Productions in autumn 2018.[37]
The Singing Mermaid - Based on the best-selling children's book by Julia Donaldson, opens at The Little Angel Puppet Theatre in February. Co-adapted by director Samantha Lane and Barb Jungr, it features songs and music by Barb Jungr.[38]
We're Going On A Bear Hunt - A musical adaptation based on the book written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. Music and Lyrics by Barb Jungr. Adapted by Peter Glanville and Barb Jungr.[39]
The Pixie and The Pudding - Co-written by Barb Jungr and Samantha Lane with Music and Songs by Barb Jungr. The Pixie and The Pudding was presented as The Little Angel Theatre's Christmas show and ran from December 2019 to February 2020.[40]
Jack v Giant - Created by Peter Glanville and Barb Jungr, the team behind We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and How to Hide a Lion. The show had its initial run at The Polka Theatre and ran from 11 February to 26 March 2023.[41]
