Julian Hoult will play Toad and Kingdom Sibanda will play Ratty in The Wind in the Willows, the Rose Theatre's world-premiere Christmas show, which runs in Kingston upon Thames from 25 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.
Julian Hoult, who was in The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, leads the company of The Wind in the Willows as Toad, in a brand-new stage version of Kenneth Grahame's novel that is the Rose Theatre's festive production for 2026. Kingdom Sibanda, an original cast member of Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre, plays Ratty.
James Pedley-Holden, a RADA graduate whose stage work includes Crocodile Fever at the Arcola, is Mole. Tori Burgess, Olivier-nominated for Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of), plays Badger, and Charlotte Mills, lately seen in Wendy and Peter Pan for the RSC, takes the villain's part as Chief Weasel. The professional cast share the stage with members of the Rose Youth Theatre.
The adaptation is written by Rob Evans, with music by John Biddle, and is directed by Owen Horsley, who returns to Kingston after staging the theatre's Cinderella last Christmas. The run opens on Wednesday 25 November 2026, the press performance is on Thursday 3 December at 7pm, and the final performance is on Sunday 3 January 2027.
This version tells the story through Mole: the four friends of the riverbank find their loyalty tested when the Chief Weasel makes his move, and the shy newcomer has to find his nerve if Toad Hall is to be saved before Christmas.
Horsley is joined by Bretta Gerecke (set and lighting), Oli Townsend (costume), Dan Balfour (sound), Shay Barclay (movement), Jody Robinson (musical director), Pippa Dykes (associate director), Arthur Carrington (casting) and Claudette Williams (voice and dialect).
The Rose's artistic director, Christopher Haydon, said: "The Wind in the Willows is a perennial classic and Rob Evans' brand new adaptation is absolutely gorgeous - witty, exciting and fantastically festive. Director Owen Horsley has assembled a first rate cast and I've no doubt they will bring seasonal joy to all the families we look forward to welcoming through our doors."
Horsley added: "There's something really special about theatre at Christmas: the excitement, the anticipation, and the sense of families coming together to share an experience. This version of The Wind in the Willows is going to be perfect for that. We're creating something colourful, engaging and full of surprises, and I can't wait for audiences to come and join us."
Evans said: "Writing for a Christmas audience is a privilege and a unique opportunity to write for everyone - young people, their adults, grandparents - everyone is in the same space about to watch something together, so it better be magical and it better make you laugh."
The production is supported by the Bentall Centre, Kingston, and tickets for the full run are already on sale from the Rose Theatre.
