Terrific summer entertainment for all the family

Abigail Drennan. Photo courtesy of The Attic.

Wind in the Willows. Performed by Tread the Boards at The Attic Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon. On until 23 August 2026. Adapted and directed by Jasmine Arden-Brown.

Review by Charles Essex

We are less than three weeks into the long summer school holiday.  The children are already complaining of being bored.  What to do?  Easy! Take them to this terrific production of Wind in the Willows at The Attic.  This is ideal theatre for children aged up to 80.  Audience members familiar with the book commented that Jasmine Arden-Brown’s adaptation was true to Kenneth Graham’s original story.  Jasmine directed this highly capable cast of four in all the roles.

Alex Lacey and Matt Rouseau. Photo courtesy of The Attic.

Matt Rouseau gave an excellent performance as Mole, fastidious and finickity, introducing the story of one of the adventures of his friend Toad (Abigail Drennan).  Matt gave Mole a naïve eagerness as he finds friendship firstly with Ratty (Alex Lacey, a newcomer to Tread The Boards) and then Toad, by the riverbank.  Set designer Adam Clarke cleverly designed The Attic stage as a bucolic scene with flowers, butterflies and bullrushes, and two folding panels revealed the frontage of Toad Hall.  Rob Keeves showed his versatility as the curmudgeonly Badger, and Arthur the horse, chomping contentedly on hay.

Abigail Drennan was on top form, with an energetic and expressive performance as Toad.  Her enthusiasm and bouncy movements never faltered.  Her facial expressions ranged from gleeful enthusiasm to tantrums as she capered around the stage or sulked in frustration.  Toad’s obsession with cars was the root of his downfall – so how to achieve this in the intimate space of The Attic stage?  No spoilers but the ingenious solution to this will be revealed if you come to watch the play.  The combination of Kat Murray’s sound and lighting effects and the cast’s superb acting carried the audience from Toad’s prison cell to the cab of a railway engine.

Rob Keeves. Photo courtesy of The Attic.

All the cast took roles as weasels, the villains.  The weasels had taken over Toad Hall.  Dressed in sheepskin coat and trilbies, they were the ideal Del Boy spivs.  The final ‘fight’ was wonderfully choreographed as we only saw the weasels receiving blows with a combination of movements and lighting as they were ejected from Toad Hall.

This was another top-drawer production from The Attic.  It was clear from the audience reactions and comments, of both young and old, that The Attic has once again hit the mark.  This production deserves full houses and is guaranteed to be enjoyed by all the family.

Tickets from www.theattictheatre.co.uk