There can’t be many better ways to spend a summer afternoon than sitting in a meadow with a blanket, a coffee in hand and one of Britain’s best-loved stories unfolding in front of you.
On Sunday 26 July, The Festival Theatre brings ‘The Wind in the Willows’ to the beautiful surroundings of Dragonfly Farm Shop & Café, marking an exciting new venue for the company, as it celebrates its 45th year of bringing outdoor theatre to audiences in Kent.
Presented by Vintage Verse, this lively one-man adaptation uses only Kenneth Grahame’s original words to bring the much-loved tale vividly to life. Audiences will follow Ratty, Mole and Badger as they attempt, usually unsuccessfully, to keep the gloriously impulsive Mr. Toad from hurtling into yet another ridiculous adventure.
Funny, nostalgic and full of charm, the production captures everything people have loved about The Wind in the Willows for generations: the warmth of friendship, the freedom of the riverbank and the sheer joy and chaos that follows Toad wherever he goes.
The setting could hardly suit the story better. Tucked away near Speldhurst, Dragonfly Farm has quietly become one of those places people instantly fall in love with. Surrounded by rolling countryside and huge open skies, the farm shop and café are already known for their relaxed atmosphere and beautiful views.
This summer, for the first time, the fields will become an open-air theatre space as The Festival Theatre adds Dragonfly Farm to its growing list of unique outdoor venues during its special anniversary year.
Guests can arrive from 1.30pm to settle in before the performance begins at 2pm, with the show running until 3.15pm. Visitors are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets or beanbags and make themselves comfortable in the fully open-air setting while the story unfolds across the meadow.
The farm shop and café will be open before the performance and close at 4pm. Come for lunch beforehand or pick up an ice cream as you arrive and enjoy the afternoon of pure escapism in the countryside. There’s something wonderfully timeless about watching The Wind in the Willows outdoors, hearing laughter drift across the field as Toad tears into another disaster while swallows fly overhead and the Kent countryside stretches out around you.
