Rose Theatre Kingston Announces 2016 Christmas Show

Today Rose Theatre Kingston announces its Christmas production for 2016 - Kenneth Grahame's classic story The Wind in the Willows. Following the success of last year's festive hit A Christmas Carol, Ciaran McConville once again directs a cast of young actors from the Rose Youth Theatre led by a team of professional actors that will be announced later this year.

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

THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS AUDITIONS - CALLING ALL YOUNG ACTORS

Like last year, the Rose invites anyone aged 10-19 to apply to join the Rose Youth Theatre and audition to perform in The Wind in the Willows. Working alongside an award-winning creative team and supported by experienced teaching staff, up to fifty young people will learn high level acting skills before performing in alternate shows for five weeks. For further information please email Ciaran McConville at CiaranM@rosetheatrekingston.org.

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, MiracleBoy, 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.