Join Ratty, Mole, Badger, Otter, Portly and, of course, Mr Toad, as they return to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne and Sydney this summer, bringing to life Kenneth Grahame’s immortal story of life on the riverbank.
Celebrating 28 years in the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and 15 years in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, The Wind in the Willows continues to win appreciative audiences year in year out, having played to more than 500,000 people across Australia.
Director Glenn Elston was the recipient of a City of Melbourne Award in 2014 for his “enormous contribution to Melbourne and Australia’s artistic and community life, pioneering open-air theatre in Australia with a vision to make theatre accessible.”
As Elston’s longest running production, The Wind in the Willows is an integral part of this contribution. So why is this production so enduring?
“The Wind in the Willows has become an Australian tradition,” says Elston. “It might be because the characters are so identifiable; each of our audience members forms a relationship with them as they go on the adventure – both physically and metaphorically! It touches the child in all of us.”
This critically acclaimed outdoor theatre production delivers music, songs and laughs. There is fun for young and old as the Head Chief Rabbit transforms the audience into rabbits with a waggle of the ears and a wiggle of the nose.
The young ‘rabbits’ are encouraged to get involved in the action, and are given every opportunity to scream out loud, sing along and become part of the adventure. With laughs and surprises for children and adults, this is interactive theatre at its best.
The Wind in the Willows
Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne (Enter via Gate F on Birdwood Avenue)
Season: 24 December 2015 – 23 January 2016
Bookings: (03) 8676 7511 or online at: www.shakespeareaustralia.com.au
Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney (Harbour side of main pond)
Season: 6 – 23 January 2016
Bookings: 1300 122 344 or online at: www.shakespeareaustralia.com.au
For more information, visit: www.shakespeareaustralia.com.au for details.
Image: The Wind in the Willow’s Mr Toad, Mole and Ratty at Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens (supplied)