Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellows and musical theatre legends George Stiles and Anthony Drewe have been hard at work over the past year on a new musical adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s much-loved classic tale of The Wind in the Willows.
The musical is due to open at Plymouth Theatre Royal in October 2016 and rumour has it that it will make its way into London’s West End soon after.
Directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, The Wind in the Willows tells the story of Ratty, Badger and Mole as they come to the aid of their manic friend Mr Toad and his obsessive love for all things motorised. Originally published in 1908, the iconic tale has received numerous stage and screen treatments, but this will be the first musical adaptation.
Kavanaugh received wide public and critical acclaim for her production of The Sound of Music at Regent’s Park Open air Theatre back in 2013 and is said to have eye firmly set on a West End home for The Wind in the Willows.
The Oscar-winning creator Julian Fellowes said in a statement ‘The Wind in the Willows has been a favourite of mine literally all my life. It has been a real privilege to be part of the team re-imagining it for the musical stage... I shall be on the edge of my seat when we open at Plymouth, a marvellous theatre and the perfect launch pad for us to begin’.
Casting for the new musical has yet to be announced. Look out for more news on The Wind in the Willows coming soon!
The world premiere of Hangmen, Martin McDonagh’s new play is currently playing to sell-out houses at London’s Royal Court Theatre in Sloane Square, and now the critically acclaimed production will transfer to the West End in December 2015.