high-spirited and downright ludicrous tale of Mr Toad set for Theatre Royal Nottingham stage

Mr Toad is to take to the spotlight in an explosive new family-friendly respawn of The Wind in the Willows.

The character will star in a grand new show entitled Mr Toad, which will be staged at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal on Monday, June 17, and Tuesday, June 18, by Wise Owl Theatre.

Toad is supported by his ragtag bunch of performers; a begrudging Ratty, Badger and Mole, but as the story deepens, the wheels start to come off.

With Toad Hall under threat from the sly Vin Weasel, Toad’s insatiable need for speed could land him in serious trouble — and he must discover what being a hero truly means.

Based on the characters from Kenneth Graham’s The Wind in the Willows, Mr Toad is a story of friendship, self-discovery, overcoming adversity and, of course, a need for speed.

Wise Owl Theatre bring the riverbank characters to life with funny songs, witty jokes, and beautiful puppetry from Matthew Forbes, associate puppetry director of the National Theatre’s award-winning production of War Horse.

Director Matthew Forbes said: “Since I was a child, I’ve always loved the story of The Wind in the Willows, I remember reading it with my grandparents during the summer holidays. Each day we’d read a few chapters and I’d get lost in the fantastic world of the English countryside; I remember the dastardly weasels, the grandeur of Toad Hall, and the wonder of fancy motor cars.

“We’ve taken all of that glorious storytelling and given it a little twist. In our production, we hear Mr Toad’s story, from his perspective, with all of the pomp and ceremony that you’d expect from the one-and-only Mr Toad.”

A show filled with love, laughter and heart-warming lessons in friendship, Mr Toad is the perfect family treat.