You have to go see Wind in the Willows at the Sydney Botanic Gardens, it is brilliant. Brilliant! The whole family, including granny and grandad went to watch it and everyone loved it.
I don’t know if it is the great cast, the hilarious performance, the gorgeous setting or the audience engagement that makes it so good. It may just be the whole mixture and the way each of those aspects has been thoroughly thought through and merged that makes it work.
This is the best performance of Wind in the Willows I have ever seen and one of the best family performances we have ever been to!
The performance is so engaging that you don’t even realise that a new character has started arriving. You just don’t notice Toad flying in from the right until he’s arriving or Ratty coming in off the water until he’s virtually in the play space. You’re just so engaged in what is being performed on stage.
Did you know that the Wind in the Willows at the Sydney Botanic Gardens has been running for the past 16 years!? This is the 17th consecutive year of performances. If you’re looking for a family tradition, this could be one of them…
I love the Wind in the Willows, I always have. The characters, the stories. Always hoping that Toad will learn his lesson.
The backdrop of the Botanic Gardens is the best location for a performance of Wind in the Willows. In this version of the play the kids get to be involved beyond expectation! It’s a great school holiday activity.
In this post, I’ll give you a brief outline of the Wind in the Willows if you’ve never read it or watched the old movies. Next I’ll set out all the details you need to attend including where it is and what the cost is. I will also add in a bit about age suitability so click on the contents page if that’s what you’re most interested in and it’ll take you right to that section.
Wind in the Willows at the Sydney Botanic Gardens
Who doesn’t love Sydney’s botanic gardens? Not only are they beautiful in their own right but they’re in a spectacular location looking out over the harbour and the opera house.
I must just warn you, if you haven’t visited the Gardens this summer, you will be surprised how brown and dry they are. It’s actually quite confronting to see it like this when we’re so mindful of the drought and the fires that are raging at the moment. We so desperately need rain, lots and lots of rain.
Sorry about that. You just can’t escape what is happening to our beautiful country at the moment. I am praying for rain!
But back to the Wind in the Willows at the Sydney Botanic Gardens…
What is Wind in the Willows
Read on if you don’t know the story of the Wind and the Willows, if you know all about Toad, Ratty and Badger then head to the next section which deals with this adaptation.
Wind in the Willows was written by Kenneth Grahame, a scotsman who was the secretary of the Bank of England. Who knew bankers could write such lovely stories.
The Characters
Warren, Head chief Rabbit. He’s your guide through this performance of the Wind in the Willows. He’s not in the original story but in this version the first character you’ll meet. Just listen to what he says and tells you to do.
Next up is Weasel and weasel is really really funny but not the most trustworthy bloke. Keep your valuables close by if you know what I mean. There are weasels in the original but this Weasel plays a prominent role in this version. He’ll be with you throughout the play.
Mole known as “Moly” is a sweet, humble little animal who doesn’t know much about the world. He’s shy but also desperate for an adventure.
Rat known as “Ratty” s although he’s actually a water vole (I have no clue what a water vole is and you don’t really need to know for the purposes the play).
Mr Badger is the wise sage of the group. He’s a little reclusive but kind and caring. He was actually a friend of Toad’s deceased father so feels like he has to look out for Toad’s best interests.
Top Tip:
To all the moms and grans, watch out for Badger. He is looking for a lady love. Do NOT make eye contact with him during his first few songs!
Mr Toad as “Toad” or ” Toady” to his friends, the wealthy owner of Toad Hall. Toad is a problem, he gets obsessed with “things” and then gets himself into trouble. He is rich and vain but also sometimes shows himself to be kind-hearted. Toad has a very short-attention-span and gets bored with each new activity until he discovers cars.
The Normal Plot
First published in 1908, the story starts with Mole who tired of cleaning his house visits the river and meets Rat. Rat and Mole become good friends and meet up with Toad.
Toad takes Rat and Mole on an adventure seeming from his latest obsession, horse drawn carts. As per usual Toad gets bored and is suddenly exposed to a car…. which he become obsessed with. Toad loves cars!! And causes a number of accidents and incidents.
Rat, Mole and the wise Badger decide that they need to help save Toad from himself. Ultimately they are unsuccessful and Toad lands up in jail for 20 years. While he is in jail his house gets taken over by nasty weasels and stoats and all the friends band together to try get Toad his house back.
The Wind in the Willows at the Sydney Botanic Garden adaptation
This adaptation is pretty different to the normal version. The normal version of the Wind in the Willows is characterised by fast paced and the slow paced moments and story lines.
This version is just great family theatre throughout. It’s keeps everyone entertained from the minute it starts to the minute it ends. I would say that there are two parts of the play, the second part being in an altogether different location in the garden and more true to the story of the original Wind in the Willows.
Part 1
This part of the play starts in the middle of the gardens against the backdrop of the big lake. There isn’t much of a story line to this part of this play it’s more of an introduction. You get to meet each of the characters and you learn a bit about each one of them. There are lots of songs and tales told between the characters.
Even if this was all there is to the play it would be enough, you would want to see more of Toad but even this type of entertainment with the quality of the cast is great.
After this part of the play everyone ups and moves to another section of the garden.
Top tip:
Don’t set up your picnic completely or take too much with you that can’t be easily moved. While Part 1 is the perfect time to eat during, keep it short because everything, absolutely everything has to be picked up and moved across the gardens to a different location. You won’t go back there again.
Part 2
After a 3 minute walk across the garden you arrive at the second setting: Toad Hall and this is where the story part of the play begins.
The second part of Wind in the Willows at the Sydney Botanic Gardens stays quite close to the original story of Rat, Toad, Mole and Badger. Now is when Weasel’s character really comes to the fall.
Top Tip:
Do not sit in the front few rows unless you’re okay with getting a little wet.
There will come a time when the kids are invited to go off and search for a missing character. DO NOT PANIC. They do come back but only after 10/15 minutes, it’s enough time for you to panic that maybe they’re lost or your child is hurt but mine were absolutely fine.
Our favourite parts of Wind in the Willows at the Sydney Botanic Garden (without spoilers)
My favourite part of the play had to have been when a character came to visit Toad at Toad Hall and a little girl in the audience yelled “He’s not there”.
It was so cute!! That just gives you a taste of how comfortable the kids are with the performers and the play and how engaged and involved they are.
My son’s favourite parts were when there was sheer chaos. Food flying or water shooting. He absolutely loved those. He didn’t even have to tell me, he was grinning his head off about it. I’ve never seen him so delighted by a play.
My daughter loved it when Toad crashed his caravan. It was just so unexpected and it’s when Toad discovers his love of cars… she was just giggling and giggling. It was so sweet.
Where is The Wind in the Willows at the Sydney Botanic Garden
Where are the Sydney Botanic Gardens
The Botanic Gardens are located on the South side of the Sydney Harbour, just East of the City. They are rather big so there are various entrances to get you into the gardens. Depending on how you’re planning on getting there, there are two gates I would suggest using.
Where is the play in the Sydney Botanic Gardens
Lawn 42.
Not very helpful is that! But what is nice is that they have set the play against the backdrop of water so you’ve just got to look for the biggest pond and you will find it.
Lawn 42 is the big piece of lawn between the main pond and the harbour’s waters. If you are walking along the water from the Opera House it is about halfway between the Opera House and Mrs Macquaries Chair.
This is where the play starts but NOT where the play ends.
How to get there
The two easiest ways to get to the Botanic Gardens are by public transport or by car.
Train, Bus or Ferry
If you’re coming in on the train, bus or ferry you will probably land up at Circular Quay. Coming from CQ you want to enter the gate near the Opera House and follow the water.
You will find yourself coming up to a large piece of open lawn on your left which is where the play is set up.
By car
If you’re driving into the City the best bet is to park at the Domain. Pre-book your parking and try choose School Holiday parking as an option, it’ll be the cheapest.
From there you come up into the Domain and walk South towards the water. Enter at the top gate after the Art Gallery and then just keep heading down to the water past the succulent area on you right. When you get to the water head left towards the Opera House.
Play Dates and Times and Tickets
Play dates and Times
The Wind in the Willows at Sydney Botanic Garden runs from 7 January to 26 January 2020. There are two shows midweek on Saturdays and one show on Sunday as follows:
| Wednesday to Saturday | 10:30am | 6pm |
| Sundays | 10:30am |
Ticket Prices
| Single | Family of 4 | |
| Midweek | $25 | $90 |
| Friday and Saturday | $30 | $110 |
| Sunday | $25 | $90 |
You can make a booking at the Australian Shakespeare Company website linked here.
When booking, please make sure that you choose the right location, there are also shows in Adelaide and Melbourne.
Age Suitability
Our entire family loved this play!! It is suitable for all ages. I know it often says that on family friendly websites and plays but really, this is perfect! Little kids as young as 2.5 years will love it and be engaged as will parents and even grandparents.
The songs are geared at all ages incorporating elements from baby shark to Lady Gaga’s “Shallow” and Beyonce’s Put a “Ring on It”. There is even ACDC and I think I heard some Credence Clearwater Revival.
What to take to Wind in the Willows at Sydney Botanic Garden
- This production is outside and there is no cover so make sure you take a hat.
- Take water if you’re visiting in Summer 2020, it is boiling hot down there with the sun baking off the tar walkways.
- Take bag to pack all your rubbish into.
- Don’t forget a Picnic blanket or something to sit on. The grass is dry and pokey, scratchy.
- You’re going to have to pick up and move everything so make sure you have enough bags or carriers or a pram to cart everything to the next site.
More school holiday ideas:
Check out our post on Sydney School Holidays HERE if you’re stuck on what to do this school holidays, is constantly being updated as I get more ideas.
