THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS to Blow Into Rose Theatre Kingston for the Holidays; Cast Announced!

Today Rose Theatre Kingston announces the casting for its Christmas production of Kenneth Grahame's classic story The Wind in the Willows.

Following the huge success of last year's festive hit A Christmas Carol and 2014's The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, Ciaran McConville directs a cast of young local actors from the Rose Youth Theatre led by a team of professional actors including Jamie Baughan (Toad), Joy Brook (Otter/Mrs Badger/Aunty), Derek Elroy (Badger), Gary Mitchinson (Mole), Emma Pallant (Ratty) and Michael Taibi (Stoat/Timothy). The production opens on 9 December, with previews from 6 December, and runs until 3 January.

When Mole abandons his spring cleaning in search of adventure, little does he expect to be scooped-up by Ratty, Badger and the irrepressible Toad. From summer-days messing about in boats, to an automobile addiction and an evil invasion from the Wild Woods, Mole finds himself hurtling towards the historic Battle for Toad Hall. A story of friendship and courage, The Wind in the Willows is one of the best loved books of all time, now brought to the stage in a glittering new production that promises festive madness for all ages and an enchanting ode to the wild banks of the River Thames. "Quite simply the most important story ever told." - Mr Toad, Toad Hall.

Jamie Baughan plays Toad. His theatre credits include Kinky Boots (Adelphi Theatre), Robin Hood (Bolton Octagon), Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf (Southwark Playhouse), Chicago (National tour), Mirror Teeth and Little Madam (Finborough Theatre), Dreams of Violence and Hunger (Soho Theatre) and Winter (Hampstead Theatre). For television, his credits include The C Word, The Song of Lunch, 20:01, Roman Mysteries and Johnny Shakespeare; and for film, Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass, Legend, The Comedian, Ghost in The Machine, Inkheart and One Happy Moment and A Picture of Me.

Joy Brook plays Otter/Mrs Badger/Aunty. Her theatre credits include The Pitman Painters (West End), A Dangerous Corner, A Murder Is Announced and Confusions (Theatre Royal Windsor), Dial M for Murder, The Holly and The Ivy, Four Knights in Knaresborough (UK tour), Pool Death (Salisbury Playhouse) and Time and the Room (Gate Theatre). For television her credits include Peak Practice (series regular JoAnne Pearson), Thin Blue Line, Band of Gold, Dalziel and Pascoe, The Government Inspector, The Lavender List, Free Agents, Hotel Babylon and MI High.

Derek Elroy plays Badger. His theatre credits include Screwed (Theatre 503), One Man Two Guvnors (National Theatre), Red Riding Hood and The Harder They Come (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Dick Whittington & His Cat (Barbican Theatre), World Cup Final 1966 (UK Tour), The Gruffalo (US Tour), Blues Brothers (German tour), 666 (Riverside Studios), Huckleberry Finn (Royal and Derngate, Northampton) and Foe (Complicite). For television his credits include Handle with Care, If..., Buried Treasure and Hope & Glory; and for film, Breakfast on Pluto, Bridget Jones' Diary, The Nutcracker and Revolver.

Gary Mitchinson plays Mole. His theatre credits include War Horse (New London Theatre), The Secret Garden, The Comedy of Errors and Macbeth (Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre), The Witches of Eastwick (Watermill Theatre), The Wind in The Willows (West Yorkshire Playhouse), The Fix (Union Theatre) and The Caucasian Chalk Circle (New Rep Theatre).

Emma Pallant plays Ratty. Her theatre credits include Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Comedy of Errors and Macbeth (Shakespeare's Globe), It Just Stopped and Alison's House (Orange Tree Theatre), On Golden Pond and The Herbal Bed (Salisbury Playhouse), The Cherry Orchard, His Dark Materials and Katherine Desouza (Birmingham Rep), The Spanish Golden Age Season, Henry IV Parts I and II and Laughter in the Dark (RSC) and Cymbeline (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre).

Michael Taibi plays Stoat/Timothy. His theatre credits include Running Wild (Regents Park Open Air Theatre), War Horse (New London Theatre), Britain's Got Bhangra, Jekyll & Hyde, Equus and The Full Monty (UK tour), Annie Get Your Gun (Young Vic), The Lion and The Witch & The Wardrobe (Birmingham Rep), Othello (Shakespeare's Globe), As You Like It (Sheffield Crucible & RSC Stratford), Market Boy and The Royal Hunt of the Sun (National Theatre). For television his credits include Casanova.

Ciaran McConville has adapted the play and also directs. Since 2010, he has been Director of Learning and Participation at Rose Theatre Kingston. Directing includes A Christmas Carol and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Crucible (Rose Theatre Kingston). As a writer, Ciaran's stage-plays include The Creature (a retelling of Frankenstein), My Kingdom is a Horse!, Erica the Viking, Stones, In the Way of Peace, Scenes from Childhood, Stay With Me, Lay Your Sleeping Head, Our Town: A Kingston Story, Pitching In, Over Me Now There is Only Blue Sky and God, Leipzig 1981, Orpheus & Eurydice, Snowbound, My Father the Angel (both developed at the National Theatre Studio), These Four Walls, Shostakovich, Miracle Boy, The Curse of Death's Glen, Little Crooked House, Touched by Fire, Immortal, The Man Who Dreamed and The Settling Dust. Adaptations for the stage include Treasure Island, Nineteen Eighty-Four; The Trial, Arabian Nights, Tess of the d'Urbervilles and the hit show Horrible Histories: Ruthless Romans, which toured internationally.

For tickets and more information, visit rosetheatrekingston.org or contact 020 8174 0090 (bkg fee).

Rose Theatre Kingston is located at 24-26 High Street, Kingston, KT1 1HL. Previews (6 - 8 Dec) £22 £19.50 £15 £12 £10; All other performances £30 £26 £21 £15 £10; Pit cushions at all performances £10. Family Tickets: From £58.50 (3 people inc min 1 child) - Call the Box Office for full details. Rose Loyalty Card: £10 off top two prices (available Mon-Thu; not valid on previews). Note: An additional £1 per ticket booking fee and £2.50 per booking transaction fee are payable when booking online and by phone.

Please visit rosetheatrekingston.org or call 020 8174 0090 for details of access performances and group discounts.

Concessions: Only one discount per ticket, subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply - no discounts on Pit Cushion prices. Over 60, unwaged, entertainment union, children under 16 and Students: £5 off. Under 26yrs: £5 tickets available. Please note valid ID will be required upon collection. Limited availability; certain shows only; terms and conditions apply.

Schools, Colleges: Tickets are priced from £8 at selected performances for school & Universities: groups of 10 or more; 11th teacher ticket free with every 10 purchased. Please contact the Box Office for more details.

Babies Babies under 18 months old are welcome at family productions. We do not charge admission but a free ticket must be collected from the Box Office. Prams and buggies may be stored in the foyer at the owner's risk.

Access Patrons with disabilities and their carer/companion enjoy half price tickets. The Rose is a fully accessible organisation and we welcome everyone. Please contact us in advance to discuss how we can help make your visit as comfortable as possible, on 020 8174 0090 or email access@rosetheatrekingston.org.

Sensory Access A digital hearing system is available for patrons with a hearing aid, and Sennheiser headsets for patrons without a hearing aid. Guide and hearing dogs are welcome. Please let us know in advance so we can provide a dog-sitter and water bowl.

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