At the height of an English summer, wet-behind-the-ears Mole meets Rat, Badger, and the irrepressible Toad and is thrust into a thrilling new world. But as winter draws closer, Toad’s adventures take them far from the safety of the Riverbank and deep into the uncertainties of the Wild Wood, and hidden in the shadows of the lengthening nights lurk other creatures. And they have an old score to settle…
In the unknown depths of The Vault, Southwark Playhouse, you’ll be thrust into a dark, dangerous but impossibly exciting world, and into the heart of an adventure. More than an audience, you’ll become part of the Wild Wood itself as you join our heroes for car crashes, prison breaks, a testing of friendships and a battle of honour - with menacing Weasels hiding round every corner, ready to pounce. And in this mysterious place where deception is king, a different type of Toad will emerge – one who can’t buy his way out of danger, and can only rely on two things; his unique imagination, and his friends.
Following their acclaimed production of Sunday Morning at the Centre of the World by Louis de Bernières, Bad Physics turn their “near-unique performance style” to an adventurous reinvention of this well-loved story. With a unique immersive aesthetic by Linbury prize-winning designer James Cotterill, where Rabbits ears are made from old slippers and Toad’s car is a souped-up shopping trolley, make-do-and-mend and boundless imagination meet to create a fantastical Toad for our times. Fuelled by adventure, courage and danger; it’s The Wind in the Willows for the Doctor Who generation.
We need to raise £1050 to make up the budget for the show, which has already received support from the National Theatre, Royal Victoria Hall Foundation and the Jerwood Space. We need 70 donations of £25 each to reach this target, in exchange for which we are offering a year's membership to our supporter's network - Good Physicists. As a Good Physicist you will be able to attend a special preview performance of Toad on Thursday 7th July, followed by a question and answer session and drinks event with the Cast and Creatives - you'll also continue to receive invitations to future events throughout the year. We already have some fantastic Good Physicists and Patrons, including Louis de Bernières, Sir Nicholas Hytner, Howard Davies, Thea Sharrock and Adrian Scarborough. If you can't attend on Thursday 7th but still want to donate, we'll happily accommodate you at another performance during the run.
