A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

The Wind in the Willows (Bennett)

Full-Length Musical, Comedy  /  25 any gender (adult)

By Kenneth Grahame
Adapted for the stage by Alan Bennett
Music & Additional Lyrics by Jeremy Sams

“Alan Bennett's stage adaptation of The Wind in the Willows has become a classic in its own right.” – The Guardian

This ingenious adaptation of the classic children's novel is a contemporary slant on the adventures of Badger, Rat, Mole and Toad of Toad Hall.

The Wind in the Willows (Bennett)

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    25 any gender (adult)
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptation (Literature)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences

Details

Summary

This ingenious adaptation of the classic children's novel created a sensation at the National Theatre of Great Britain. Here are Badger, Rat, Mole and Toad of Toad Hall in a contemporary slant on the familiar tale. Script and songbook sold separately.

History
The Wind in the Willows premiered at the National Theatre of London's Olivier Theatre on 12 December 1991.
Keywords
Performing Groups

The Wind in the Willows features numerous characters and can be performed by a cast of variable size. The original National Theatre production featured 23 actors playing the following roles:

Albert
Badger
Bargewoman
Chief Weasel
Clerk of the Court / Hedgehog
Fox / Ticket Clerk / Rabbit
Fred Rabbit
Gaoler’s Daughter / Squirrel
Gerald /Rabbit
Gypsy / Rabbit
Magistrate / Hedgehog
Mole
Monica / Hedgehog
Norman Weasel
Officer / Stoat / Train Driver
Parkinson / Squirrel
Policeman / Stoat / Rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbit
Rat
Rupert / Squirrel
Toad
Washerwoman / Hedgehog

  • Features Fantasy Costumes
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

“A brilliantly theatrical piece of storytelling entertainment.” – The Financial Times

“I am almost as enthusiastic about Alan Bennett's adaptation... as Ratty is about his river.” – Time Out

“This has to be the most dazzling and enjoyable show in the West End. I hope it wins heaps of awards.” – The Daily Express

“Bennett has played fair with [the] original story while adding to it his own brand of astringent nostalgia and cryptic wit.” – The Guardian

“An enthralling evening of fun and laughter.” – Suffolk News

Music

  • Musical Style Classic Broadway
  • Vocal DemandsEasy
  • Orchestra Size Small/Combo

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £70 per performance plus VAT when applicable.
    This title may have restrictions in place for London based productions. Please submit a licence request to confirm specific availability.

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!

Songbook available for sale and not included in a hire package.

Optional full score and band parts, containing incidental music not found in songbook, available on hire for additional fees:


1 Flute
1 Clarinet
1 Oboe
1 Horn
1 Cornet
1 Guitar 1
1 Guitar 2
1 Accordion
1 Drums
1 Violin 1
1 Violin 2
1 Full Score

Scripts

Available Formats:
Get the Script

Add-Ons

Take a look below at how you can enhance your show!

Authors

Alan Bennett

Alan Bennett

Alan Bennett was born in Leeds in 1934. After studying at Oxford University he collaborated as a writer and performer with Dudley Moore, Jonathan Miller and Peter Cook in Beyond the Fringe in 1960 at the Edinburgh Festival. He then turned to writing full time and produced h ...

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Jeremy Sams

Jeremy Sams

Jeremy Sams Writer: Amour (Broadway), Ghetto (National Theatre and Broadway), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (West End and Broadway), The Wizard of Oz (West End and tour); translation of Indiscretions (Broadway), The Miser and Mary Stuart (RNT), The Rehearsal, Don Giovanni, Figaro’s ...

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Kenneth Grahame

Kenneth Grahame
Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932) was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. In 1879 he joined the staff of the Bank of England, becoming secretary in 1898. He retired after the publication of his most successful work, The Wind in the Willows (1908), a fantasy about Mole, Rat and other anima ...
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