New musical The Wind in the Willows looks towards a West End opening

The new musical is looking to London's West End

The new musical adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's wild tale The Wind in the Willows about the thrill-seeking, lovable menace Mr Toad is looking towards a West End run following a brief UK tour which officially opens this week.

This brand new British musical features a book by Oscar-winning screenwriter and 'Downton Abbey' creator Julian Fellowes and Olivier Award-winning composer and lyricist team George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. It is currently running at the Theatre Royal Plymouth until 22 October followed by engagements at The Lowry in Salford and Mayflower Theatre in Southampton, prior to opening in London's West End.

The musical stars Rufus Hound as Toad, David Birrell as Badger, Fra Fee as Mole, Thomas Howes as Ratty, Neil McDermott as Chief Weasel and Sophia Nomvete as Mrs Otter, along with a company that also includes Rakesh Boury, Courtney Bowman, Jenna Boyd, Abigail Brodie, Jorell Coiffic-Kamall, Nicole Deon, James Gant, Evan James, Graham Lappin, Michael Larcombe, Bethany Linsdell, Dylan Mason, Emma Odell, Ryan Pidgen, Patrick Sullivan, Karli Vale, Adam Vaughan, Georgie Westall and Holly Willock.

"Ratty, Badger and Mole join the exuberant Toad and embark on a series of adventures and misadventures caused by his insatiable need for speed! Imprisoned for theft and with his existence under threat from the inhabitants of the Wild Wood, Toad must attempt a daring escape to defend Toad Hall."

The Wind in the Willows is produced by Jamie Hendry, MJE Productions and Josh Gilinski in association with Theatre Royal Plymouth. It is directed by Rachel Kavanaugh with design by Peter McKintosh, choreography by Aletta Collins, lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Gareth Owen, orchestrations by Chris Jahnke and David Shrubsole and musical supervision by Simon Lee.

No solid dates for a West End run have been set, but it has been announced that the run in three regional venues comes prior to a London production. Further details about the transfer will be announced in due course.

Julian Fellowes previously collaborated with Stiles and Drewe on the West End and Broadway production of Mary Poppins. He is currently working alongside Andrew Lloyd Webber on the London premiere of School of Rock which begins performances at the New London Theatre later this month.

Production images of the world premiere of The Wind in the Willows are available to view by clicking below.