The Wind in the Willows Relaxed Performance Picture information strip: Pack Page 1 Polka Theatre 240 Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1SB +44 (0)20 8543 4888 www.polkatheatre.com Polka is a registered charity no. 256979, company no. 938592, VAT no. 238 9709 18
To prepare you for your visit to Polka we have put together a synopsis, this is to help you understand the story that you are about to see and to know what to expect during the performance. We have adapted the show slightly by having fewer people watching and you can also choose which seat you sit in. We have lowered the sound and lighting levels and throughout the performance the auditorium will have the main lights dimmed instead of being in complete darkness. There is also a designated chill out area outside the auditorium that can be used at any time throughout the show. This is a picture of the main theatre You can choose which seat you would like to sit in. Page 2
This is a picture of the Chill-Out Area. This is outside the main theatre upstairs. You can leave the theatre at any time and come back in when you are ready. There is a television monitor that is showing what is happening on the stage. This is a picture of the Exhibition Area or Foyer There are rocking horses, a dressing up box and a colouring in area. This is a picture of the shop in the Exhibition Area or Foyer Page 3
The Wind in the Willows This is a fantastic play and there is lots of music. Sometimes children don t like noises. If you don t like noises we can help you. There is a symbol in the pack telling you when there will be a noise so you can put your fingers in your ears or use your ear defenders and still enjoy the fun! There are six actors in this show, they are pretending to be animals. Two of those actors will play more than one role, they do this by putting on different costumes and masks. You can see what the actors look like in this pack. The show is in two halves with a fifteen minute break in the middle. During the break the characters will be moving within the auditorium and speak directly to the audience. Please feel free to speak to the actors when they do this. There will also be some pretend snow at the end of the show. Page 4
This is what the actors look like and the characters they are playing. Mole Ratty Badger Toad Rabbit / Weasel / French Rat Rabbit / Weasel / Squirrel Page 5
Scene 1 This is what the stage will look like when you come into the theatre. There is a white sheet over the center of the stage to make it look like snow As the show starts, the actors sing a song and enter from the back of the auditorium. Scene 2 Mole emerges from her burrow, and from exploring the area around her mole hill. Mole discovers the river and on the river she meets Ratty. Scene 3 Ratty takes Toad on a tour of the river bank. They meet lots of other animals including Swallows, Rabbits, Badger and finally Toad appears in his motor boat. Page 6
Scene 4 Ratty takes Mole to see Toad at Toad hall. Scene 5 Toad takes Mole and Ratty for a ride in his caravan which is pulled by a Weasel. They stray onto a human road and Toad sees a motor car. He decides that is what he wants to drive! Scene 6 Mole sings a song about his lovely motor car. He comes on and off the stage, each time he comes on with another piece of driving clothing on. Each time he goes off there is the sound effect of a car crashing. Page 7
Scene 7 Mole hears a funny sound and is drawn into the wild wood. Ratty finds her and they run to Badgers home. The wild creatures are masks and puppets of heads of Weasels. Their eyes light up. Scene 8 Mole, Badger and Ratty sit in Badgers home talking about Toad. They decide he has gone too far with his cars and decide to stop him driving. Scene 9 Toad wants to drive his new car. Ratty, Mole and Badger steal his battery to keep him from driving it. Page 8
The actors will run around the auditorium with the battery. If you would like, you can touch the battery. Toad is sneaky and has a second battery hidden. Scene 10 Toad drives his car, he get spotted by a human. Then he gets caught by the human in an upturned jam jar. Interval There is now going to be a fifteen minute break. There will be an announcement in the Café and Foyer before the second half starts. Page 9
Second Half Scene 11 Toad is still stuck in the jar. He is very unhappy. Then a child comes onto the stage and speaks to Toad and lets him go free. Scene 12 There is a strange wind in the willows. Toad is cold as he tries to find his way home, the trees sway in the wind. Scene 13 Ratty is wondering what life is like in the Wide World, he meets a squirrel and ask them what they know of the Wide World. The squirrel is only interested in hiding its very large nut. Page 10
Scene 14 Ratty meets a French Rat. This rat speaks with a French accent. They sing a song together about exploring the wide world. Scene 15 Mole finds Ratty and manages to convince Ratty to let go of his boat. As they walk along the river bank they find Mole s home. They hear a banging on the door and discover it s Toad! Scene 16 Toad tells Mole and Ratty all about his escape. They decide to go and see Badger. Page 11
Scene 17 Badger talks Toad into his plan for getting Toad Hall back from the creatures of the Wild Wood. Scene 18 Toad, Ratty, Mole and Badger have a fight with the Weasels to get them out of Toad Hall. This is pretend fighting and all the actors have practiced it lots so they don t hurt each other. Scene 20 Toad is telling untrue stories again and boasting that he is like a human. There is a loud sound effect and Badger, Mole and Ratty finally convince Toad to tell the truth and be happy being a toad. Page 12 THE END