Review: Wind in the Willows at People’s Theatre

“…a fun forest frolic…some truly memorable performances…”

Wind in the Willows by Alan Bennett, People’s Theatre

By Lauren Powell

Wind in the Willows is a childhood favourite of mine. My dad used to read it to us often and I always thought of my little brother (who was going through his toy car phase) as similar to Mr Toad and myself as Ratty. I’m guessing I’ve always had a touch of that “main character syndrome”. So when I was asked to review this production at the SA performing arts centre it was an instant and emphatic YES!  After their memorable version of Into the Woods last year I was hoping the review gods would smile on me and I’d get the 2026 gig. 

Wind in the Willows is a beloved children’s classic. I have never seen the musical version, before so it managed to bring a fresh angle to the story of four unlikely friends banding together to save one of their homes from predatory squatters. 

Everyone was brilliant, from the small children to the star performers. It wasn’t a flawless performance but it was a passionate one! At one point Mr Toad gets locked up for a touch of TWOCing, but really Louis Graham should be the one behind bars for absolutely stealing every scene. Mr Toad is a hard character to pull off successfully if you aren’t a whirlwind of charisma and camp. If this actor’s career isn’t one to watch I’ll eat my hat. Iris Heming as Ratty was also a delight to behold. She gave me Dick Van Dyke vibes. Am I giving her an easy ride because she’s my favourite character? Absolutely not – she’s got a really great sense of movement and presence. That being said, Ratty wasn’t my favourite character in this show. My new favourite might actually be one of the weasels. Another scene stealer, Lola Johnson prowled the stage like a cross between Nancy from The Craft and Shenzi from The Lion King. Her tongue flicking, itching and ticking really distinguished her from a large cohort of similar characters.

I really enjoyed the props and scenery. The boat that Ratty and Mole mess about in on the river together was so cute and moved so convincingly. The car prop was equally enchanting. The synergy between the actors and these props was brilliant. 

The lighting got off to a rocky start with some wobbly spot-lighting but they got on track rapidly. The lighting was really subtle and complementary to the scenes and worked well in conjunction with the set to really move you between locations. 

I’d recommend this show to anyone and everyone reading. For adults it’s a charming throwback to childhood. For children, it’s a fun forest frolic that they’ll remember fondly as their own hair turns grey in years to come. There are some truly memorable performances, and talent, to watch. My only criticism is aimed at the audience. There were some funny moments that didn’t get the laughs they deserved, possibly because everyone was caught up in the overall earnestness of the production. So, I want the hedgehogs – and later on Mole – to know I chuckled. You deserved your standing ovation, animals – well done!

Wind in the Willows plays at People’s Theatre 26 – 28 May.

Lauren Powell is a recovering academic from the North East of England. Currently residing in South Shields with her partner and two malevolent gerbils. Lauren is a short form writer who writes fiction as well as reviews. She has loved the theatre since childhood, and many years ago volunteered back stage with an amateur group, Stage Focus.  From one man readings to musical and beyond, Lauren can not get enough! You can find her on Twitter/X here.