The Wind in the Willows

Gobbledigook Theatre Company at Bolton Abbey Estate

THE final afternoon performance of Bolton Abbey's outdoor adaptation of The Wind in the Willows proved to be magical performance of adventure and mischief.

The outdoor walkabout production of the enchanting children's tale, based on the novel by Kenneth Grahame, ran for two weeks and ended on Sunday in cool and blustery conditions.

The windy weather did not deter audiences who were eager to see the show set against the backdrop of Bolton Priory Church and ruins on the banks of the River Wharfe.

The Wind in the Willows was directed by Phil Grainger, who runs Gobbledigook Theatre Company based in York, and this was his first production in his year-long artistic residency at Bolton Abbey Estate.

Everyone could agree with Mr Grainger that Bolton Abbey indeed is the perfect locale for a tale which celebrates the beauty of nature.

The show begins with a musical introduction in the shabby yet relaxed Willow tent before moving to a scene along the River Wharfe, in which Ratty, played by Andrew Caley, gives Mole, played by Cecily Nash, her first ever ride in the boat.

The scene then shifts to the arrival of the mischievous Toad, played wonderfully by John Holt-Roberts, whose humour and rapport with the audience brought many smiles to the faces of both children and adults alike.

The 'underground' set of Mr Badger, played nicely by David Jarman, is actually in a ditch in the shade of an oak tree allowing the audience to look on from above.

One of the most enjoyable elements of the production was being led by a trio of ‘rabbits’, whose live music on guitar, violin and banjo provided a "peppy bounce" for the crowds as they moved from set to set.

Another nice feature of the production was the chance to enter the garden of the Bolton Abbey Estate, which served as the perfect setting for Toad Hall, the scene for the both the weasel party and the storming of Toad Hall.

The Chief Weasel, played by the funny Alexander Flanagan-Wright, and his mischievous band of ‘weasels’, a band of youngsters who joined the professional line-up, interacted beautifully the audience who so often became part of the show.

The action of the final scene at Toad Hall and sing-along in the Willow tent was a perfect ending to a thoroughly entertaining day out.

One audience member summed it perfectly by saying: "The acting was simply excellent but what made it for us was the way we were all made to join in. The setting was just brilliant."

Everyone can now look forward to Robin Hood, which will be next summer's outdoor production at Bolton Abbey.

Daryl Ames