LIVE Radio Play: The Wind in the Willows adapted by Bart Meehan

Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows adapted by Bart Meehan

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame is one of the most beloved stories in English children’s literature. First published in 1908, the adventure begins when Mole abandons his spring cleaning in search of something far more exciting, leading him to the riverbank where he meets the charming Ratty and discovers an entirely new world. Together with the wise Badger, they attempt to manage the increasingly reckless behaviour of the wealthy and impulsive Mr Toad, whose obsession with motorcars leads him into chaos and catastrophe. Set amongst riverbanks, woodlands and country roads, the story combines humour, friendship, danger and warmth in a world of talking animals and gentle adventure. Originally inspired by stories Grahame told his son, The Wind in the Willows has remained a timeless classic for generations of readers and audiences alike.

And now this story, in radio play format, comes to The Mill this July as Artsound Radio Theatre returns with a joyful live adaptation of The Wind in the Willows. Following the success of the March radio play season, audiences are once again invited into The Mill’s intimate 67-seat theatre to experience storytelling being built in real time: actors gathered at microphones, live foley and sound effects created before your eyes, and the world of the riverbank and Wild Wood brought vividly to life through sound, music and imagination.

Combining the nostalgia of classic radio drama with the immediacy of live theatre, The Wind in the Willows is playful, inventive and magical for audiences of all ages.

Did you know Canberra has a specialist percussion and drums store called Groove Warehouse? Many of the live foley items you’ll see and hear at The Mill come from this fantastic local business. Groove Warehouse, alongside Mojo Guitars, Sidestage Productions and ArtSound, helps make these live radio productions possible.

Duration: 60 minutes approximately 

Audience suitability: Anyone who likes a laugh and doesn't like spring cleaning!

This production is done in collaboration with ArtSound FM.

Cast

Graeme Rhodes as Radio Host

Maddie Lee as Mole

Helen McFarlane as Rat

Mark Lee as Toad

Chipz Jin as Otter

Richard Manning as Badger

Aleksis Andreitchenko as Daughter

Mill Theatre Production Team

Adapted by Bart Meehan from the Kenneth Grahame novel

Director: Lexi Sekuless

Technical Management: Ezekiel Chalmers

Stage Manager: Paige MacDonald 

Publicity Talent: Chipz Jin, Mark Lee, Sarah Hartley

Photography: Maddie & Mark Photography

The Mill Theatre is supported by Molonglo and the equipment was provided by Mojo Guitars, Sidestage and Groove Warehouse

TICKETS 

General admission tickets are $40 exclusive of GST and Humanitix booking fees. In 2026 The Mill had to increase tickets by passing on GST to patrons (we are very sorry to do this but the BAS payments are rotten!) 

Concession tickets for Full-Time Students, Health Care or Pension Card holders are $35 exclusive of GST and Humanitix booking fees.

Mill Subscribers get tickets at reduced prices. You can subscribe here for the same deal! 

Tickets are fully transferable up to one day before the event only. No refunds are available.

Tickets are for entry only and are available online until one hour before the show. From that point, box office tickets in person are available for purchase. 

The information below goes into a lot of detail but if you have further questions, please email us at hello@milltheatreatdairyroad.com. A small team can see that inbox and we respond very quickly. The Mill is a very quirky space and we want to welcome you!

SEATING & ACCESS

• All tickets are general admission and no seats are reserved so the earlier you arrive, the better position you will have. If you have any access needs and require reserved seating you must email us before the show please hello@milltheatreatdairyroad.com

• Seating is in an L-shape to create a dynamic and intimate playing space. 

• The venue is fully accessible for wheelchairs with a ramp from the P3 parking spot and same level access from entry into building 3.3 into the theatre all the way to the accessible seating positions inside the Mill. We have two wheelchair seating positions both with very different views. Please contact us at hello@milltheatreatdairyroad.com so we can talk through the options, including adding companion card tickets. One option is on the short side, the other option is on the long side. All accessible bookings will be reserved.

• Every seat in the house has a great view, and a different view. Patrons walk through the set to find your seats, adding to the intimacy of the space. This means, late arrivals or patrons who leave the theatre before intermission or the end will NOT BE ADMITTED TO THE THEATRE.
  



ARRIVAL & PROTOCOLS

ENTERING

• Please head to the Box Office on arrival. You really must do this please. If you have already purchased a ticket, the Front of House team checks off the name of every booked attendee. Please do not try to walk directly into the theatre.

• If you haven’t purchased a ticket, you can get one onsite an hour before show time. However, it is a very small theatre and we have started selling out and we do not hold any seats. 

• The doors open approximately 15 minutes before show time. The Front of House team will let you know when you can enter.

LOCK OUT

• Due to the unique layout of the venue, the audience walks through the stage to take their seats. This means we cannot accommodate anyone slipping in late for the beginning of the show or for the return after intermission. This also means, if you need to leave during the show, we cannot allow you back in. If patrons are rude or resistant about this fact then it makes for both an unsafe and unpleasant time for everyone. Please think about this before you book and before you arrive. 

• The Front of House team rings a bell and counts the audience to ensure you won’t miss out but please don’t tempt fate otherwise you will be locked out and we cannot let you in. We even call any audience who might be running late to make sure you won’t miss the show! 

LOCATION

The Mill Theatre is in Building 3.3, the Screencraft and KeepCo building which is a short walk from Capital Brewing. There are two easy ways to approach the Theatre:

PARK in P3 at the back of the precinct. From there you will see building 3.3 which has a large Screencraft sign. The public entrance is just up from that sign (not underneath it!). Once inside, walk about 5 metres and the theatre is to the right, next to Mojo Guitars.

WALK from Capital Brewing or the Less sculpture into the KeepCo building, pass Ramen Daddy and at the end of the corridor we are on the left. 

PARKING

All parking in the precinct is free with several accessible parking spots in all the parking locations. The best spot to park is P3 at the back of the precinct. If you park elsewhere please be warned that signage and way-finding around the precinct is extremely difficult. Arrive in plenty of time to possibly get lost, possibly be in a bad mood, and remedy that with a drink at our bar before enjoying a smashing show!