Having reached the warmer days of my first Easter term, I can confirm that a highlight of the Cambridge experience is punting. What could be better than drifting across sun-sparkling water, gliding under bridges past gorgeous colleges and luscious green scenery, whiling away the time with great friends beside you? For me, punting is both peaceful and strangely nostalgic, an experience that connects us to past generations of students who would have spent summer afternoons in just the same way. And for those who grew up reading just the right book, perhaps the river reminds you of an adventure belonging to a certain rat and mole…

Having sat down with director Caitlin Gillard and producer Seyan Dattani, it is clear that Cambridge University Musical Theatre Society’s adaptation of Julian Fellowes’ The Wind in The Willows is all about capturing, and captivating our nostalgia. Both Seyan and Caitlin, like myself, have fond childhood memories bound up in their love of this Edwardian classic. These feelings are enduring; Dattani commented on how the story “still feels very timeless today…I read it as a child but even as an adult I feel you can get something out of it”. Gillard spoke with enthusiasm about ticket sales ranging from families with children to over 60s; she hopes that this production will “bring generations together”, creating a moment of community and shared “childlike wonder” by retelling a story which audiences may know and love, or be encountering for the first time. She wants the show to be inclusive to all, “to appeal to younger members of the community without alienating older members”.

“Dattani hopes that, if anything, this show will ‘make people smile’”

As for us students, Gillard feels that now is the perfect time for this show. In the whirlwind that is exam season, The Wind in the Willows is one of several upcoming shows inspired by childhood classics: an opportunity for a light-hearted escape from what can feel like a brain-scrambling few weeks. Dattani hopes that, if anything, this show will “make people smile”.

Aesthetically, the play hopes to maintain a certain quaintness, emulating the charming ink-pen illustrations that The Wind in the Willows fans adore as much as the story itself. By keeping the play aligned with its vintage feel, Gillard and Dattani hope to give the audience a sense of travelling back in time. There are also some exciting new innovations to look out for. This play is a musical, blending folk-inspired songs with the classic loud-and-proud musical feel. Each character has their own distinct musical theme; Rat will sing in sea-shanty style while Badger is set to grace the stage with slower baritone songs. While individual characters get their moments of solo stardom, we can also expect some larger ensemble pieces which capture the silliness of the story’s animal world.

“Who could resist joining Rat, Toad, Badger and Mole for an evening”

Gillard believes that to truly capture the essence of Wind in The Willows, the show needs to bring to life every aspect of the animals’ adventure. The ambitious proposal for staging certainly represents this; what more excitement could there be than both a car and a boat in just one show?! In a play where humans are imitating animals, Gillard’s directorial approach is one which encourages self-expression and creativity, allowing the cast to shape their character’s animalistic quirks for themselves. Both cast and production team range from those with significant past involvement in the Cambridge theatre scene to first-timers. Gillard feels that this benefits everyone: “it means we can give those with less experience more support, and in return they offer us a fresh perspective”. What is also inspiring about this show is that it has opened up opportunities for female actors, this is something that the novel lacks: “there is only one character written as a female […] but I think this is one of those stories where gender doesn’t matter. In this version more of the animal characters are female […] it adds a balance to what is otherwise a very male cast”.

I was left with the impression that this show is striving to be nothing but a positive experience, encouraging involvement regardless of experience to create a show that is, in the same way, meant to be enjoyed by everyone. Knowing this, who could resist joining Rat, Toad, Badger and Mole for an evening, to let ourselves be transported back to the magic of our childhoods?

The Wind in the Willows will play from the 27th to the 30th May at the ADC Theatre.