Royal & Derngate Presents THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS with Jack Edwards, Chris Harper and More, Tonight

Director Gary Sefton brings his inventive and energetic story-telling style to Kenneth Grahame's classic children's story, in a visually dazzling ensemble production, packed with magic, adventure and song. A real festive family treat, The Wind In The Willows takes to the stage at Northampton's Royal & Derngate from today 27 November to Sunday 5 January.

In this well-loved story, the peace of the countryside is shattered by Toad's insatiable appetite for all things noisy and new. When his new-found love of the motor-car leads him into yet more trouble, shy Mole, faithful Ratty and sensible old Badger struggle to get their bombastic friend back onto the straight and narrow. This lively adventure takes these four old friends from the tranquil riverbank (and the joys of picnics and boating) to the sinister Wild Wood and the battle for Toad Hall, meeting carol-singing hedgehogs and wicked weasels along the way.

After the huge success of A Christmas Carol last year, director Gary Sefton (whose credits for Royal & Derngate include A Midsummer Night's Dream, Diary Of A Nobody, Travels With My Aunt) returns to cast his anarchic spell on this charming tale of friendship and adventure for all the family.

The show also sees the return of Sara Perks as designer, whose previous work for Royal & Derngate includes Christmas shows Alice In Wonderland and The Wizard Of Oz as well as the Young America pairing of Spring Storm andBeyond The Horizon, which transferred to the National Theatre. Other work includes The King And I for Curve, Leicester, which also enjoyed a major national tour. The music is adapted from an original score by Neil Brand, presenter of the recent BBC4 series Sounds Of Cinema: The Music That Made The Movies. Sound design is by Jon Nicholls, another frequent collaborator at Royal & Derngate and lighting design is by Matthew Haskins.

The cast includes JaCK Edwards (Toad), Chris Harper (Ratty), Sion Lloyd (Badger) and Katy Phipps (Mole) and the line up is completed by Stuart Angell, Jennie Dale and Cherrelle Skeete.