The joy of adventure, respecting our environment and the importance of friendship are themes that have endured in the 110 years since The Wind in the Willows was written.
Polka Theatre is re-staging The Wind in the Willows adapted by Toby Hulse this Winter. Written in 1908 by Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows is an adventurous tale for our time.
The story begins with two different woodland species of Rat and Mole finding common ground when Ratty befriends Mole and introduces her to his friends. Ratty shows Mole what life is like above the ground and Mole is surprised by what she learns as they share stories from their own lives, in awe about their different experiences and ways.
Through the changing seasons, we see the story revolve around Toad and his journey from a fad crazed destroyer of the environment and upsetter of friends, to his eventual recognition that he might be wrong. When Toad realises that he has gone too far, he needs the support of his friends Mole and Ratty, to learn to become kinder, respectful and humble. The brave and bold recapture of Toad Hall from the Wild-Wooders is at the heart of this story which includes weasels, squirrels and even a human.
Audiences will be immersed within the play as flying insects and birds, snow and swirling leave magically appear all around them. Polyphonic singing and modern music will create atmosphere, mesmerising audiences deep into the world of The Wind in the Willows. As well as plenty of comic hilarity that children will delight in, there is humour for the grown-ups.
Exceptional, dynamic sets and costumes designed by Liz Cooke draw audiences into experiencing the setting of Thames Valley at human scale, with the message of inventive recycling and re-use at the heart of the design. The props team will be creating ingenious scaled up versions of Toads caravan, boat and car. There will be rotating stages, trap doors and a matchstick mansion for Toad. The costumes are contemporary and ‘cool’, being inspired by modern sportswear and athletes with the materials utilising recycled human waste, like bubble wrap.