Wind In The Willows
Last Update 05-Mar-2008
From 3 December 1999
To 11 December 1999
Adapted by Alan Bennett from Kenneth Grahame's book
Music by Jeremy Sams
Production Notes
Kenneth Grahame's story of the adventures of Toad, Mole, Rat, and Badger was written in 1908. It was not at that time rapturously received; indeed, The Times said that "As a contribution to natural history, the book is negligible". This however is a clear case of critics getting hold of the wrong end of the stick. Families tool to the charming self-contained world of the book, with its lively and diverse collection of characters; and it has become a classic of childrens literature. This new adaptation for the stage is not the first time Toad and co have trod the boards, of course - many people know and love A.A. Milne's Toad of Toad Hall - and there have been cartoons and films galore about the riverside antics of these animals. The cast of characters and, to a lesser extent, the story, then, are well known; so why has the master of genial good humour and Northern common sense, Alan Bennett, applied his particular talents to this tale.Initially, Alan Bennett was approached in 1987 to write a new piece dovetailing the life of the little known Grahame with the advantures of his famous creations. However, this proved too dark a project for the warm hearted Bennett, given that the character of Toad was probably modelled on Alistair Grahame, Kenneth's son, who - in two of life's tragic ironies - was killed by a train along the side of a river bank. Only when the idea of a much lighter production was discussed at the National Theatre did Bennett pick up his pen again and produce the version here.
It was first produced in 1991 in the National's Olivier auditorium and continued to delight london audiences for the next five years, having transferred to the Old Vic in 1994. It is now available for smaller companies and less well equipped theatres who, cheered by the script, warm to the challenges of the staging.
It is a difficult show for The Rose, but the right sort of project for a forward looking theatre at the turn of the millennium. The fact that it is (arguably) the best Christmas entertainment available in English doesn't hurt either!