Join the spoilt and pampered Toad in his mad funny adventures! Watch as he annoyingly disrupts the tranquil riverbank life of his friends, only to be duped by the nasty weasels. Will he and his woodland friends defeat them to recover his ancestral home - Toad Hall? Join Ratty, Moley and Badger as they come to the rescue of their aristocratic friend Toad, in this wonderful comic tale that is fun for all the family. Wind in the Willows is on stage at Titchfield Festival Theatre July 12 – 20.

Jane Atkinson is director of the play and spoke to Simon Frost:

Simon: Why did you choose to direct Wind in the Willows?

Jane: It is wonderful story, and I have been lucky to see some brilliant past productions. I thought it would work really well at Titchfield Festival Theatre. For me it is one of the first stories I remember from when I was a child just learning to read. Wind in the Willows is both fun and fascinating.

Simon: Wind in the Willows is a beloved classic, with timeless themes. What specific aspects of the story do you want to emphasise for this stage adaptation?

Jane: For me, it is the fun; the absurdity; the mix of characters.. and not forgetting the chance to peek into the lives and obsessions of wonderful wild woodland creatures.

Simon: All of us have a favourite character! How did you approach the casting – and how will you direct in order to capture their distinctive personalities?

Jane: It was a casting call which anyone could attend. I chose the four main characters first - Ratty, Toad, Mole and Badger. It was important that they brought out their different characters but that they worked well together, and their relationship is key to the story. From their casting I fitted the other characters and ensemble round them. It is a strong team. Casting for the children's casts was easy - they were all so good I cast them all!!

Simon: The riverbank is central to the story. How are you going to create this on the Arden stage? (I appreciate you may wish to keep some of this under wraps!)

Jane: The riverbank, the wild wood and Toad Hall are so central to the story and they have been a challenge. But the fabulous stage team at the Arden have been invaluable in bringing them all to life.  We have worked together to create some magic and surprises.



Simon: Wind in the Willows is definitely a play for all ages. Why do you think that it appeals to both children and adults? How will you achieve that balance in the play, so that it will entertain everyone?

Jane: It is a story which is so well loved that it appeals to so many people. I am hoping to create the magic of being able to see into the lives of the creatures, and how they mix with the 'humans'. It has everything - goodness, friendship, wickedness, fighting, larger-than-life Toad, wicked weasels, and a horse that speaks.

Simon: Why should people come along and watch?

Jane: It will be entertaining, fun and endearing with some magic surprises….

Thank you, Jane.

Wind in the Willows performs in the Arden at Titchfield Festival Theatre between 12 - 20 July 2024. For more information including booking tickets please go to http://titchfieldfestivaltheatre.com/ or contact our Box Office on 0333 666 3366.