From 11 to 27 June, Guildford Shakespeare Company begins its 10th open-air season, not with Shakespeare this time but with a brand new stage adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's classic story Wind in the Willows.
The 17 performances are being staged in the gardens of Watts Gallery in Compton, which was the home of Victorian artist George F Watts and which came runners-up in the BBC TV series Restoration Village in 2006.
Following the company's first in-house adaptation last autumn of The Canterbury Tales, GSC is continuing its home-grown creations with this new comission of the much-loved classic story.
This promenade production, adapted by Ant Stones specifically for Watts Gallery's grounds, will take audiences on Mole's journey along the River Bank, into the Wild Wood and along Toad's cherished Open Road.
"We're very excited to be working with Watts Gallery on this new production, whose gallery garden will make the perfect back drop for Toad Hall and this wonderful story," commented producer Sarah Gobran.
"The opportunity to open up the woodlands for the performance will make this even more special. The audience is always at the heart of our shows and this will be no exception, just watch out you don't end up in the Weasel Army Recruitment Drive!"
The Wind in the Willows is directed by Tom Littler. Designer is Neil Irish, and GSC's own Matt Pinches will play the part of Toad, with Chris Porter as Badger and Johanne Murdock as Chief Weasel.
The summer willl continue from 11 to 25 July with Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew in the grounds of the University of Law on Portsmouth Road.