Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows may appear to be a series of fun children’s yarns on the surface, but for anyone who has read the book you’ll know that it’s one of the 20th century’s greatest novels. The stories of Ratty, Toad, Badger and Mole have inspired many theatre and TV adaptations and a new one will soon be coming to the Duchess Theatre on London’s West End.
Opening in the 16th December 2013 with a run for the production that will last until the 1st February 2014, it’s set to be a festive hit. It’s a perfect Christmas time story, with large elements of keeping the weasels from the door, sticking together and burrowing down for the winter, so we’re expecting it to be a popular one with all ages.
Show times are 7pm for the Monday to Saturday evening performance and 2pm for the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday matinee performances. Between the 23rd and 31st December there will be matinee performances throughout the week at 2pm, excluding Christmas Day. The New Year’s matinee has been moved from Wednesday 1st January 2014 to the 2nd to let Badger and his crew ring in the new year together in peace. Ticket prices are between £17.25 and £57.50 for both the evening and matinee performances.
The production is a Christmas transfer from the Royal Opera House for the adaptation directed and choreographed by Will Tuckett. It features a combination of music, dance and puppetry to retell the myriad stories that make up The Wind In The Willows in its own unique, mad cap and whimsical way.
If you’ve never read the book, the stories centre around the animal characters of the river bank and surrounding countryside, Ratty, Mole, Badger and the misfit miscreant Mr Toad. Their adventures see them helping to bring the wilder and consequence blind Mr Toad from his own wild bad judgement, as well as keeping the nefarious weasels and the rest of the Wild Wood at bay.
With the addition of narrative from poet Andrew Motion and the strength of Kenneth Graham’s original stories (first published back in 1908) behind it, we’re hopeful that Will Tuckett will retain enough of the beautiful insight of the book in and amongst the song, dance and lavish set constructions. Check out the video below to see a snapshot of the craziness that will make up the production at the Duchess Theatre.
