Ratty, Mole, Badger and Toad bring festive cheer to St George’s Hospital
A motley crew of riverside friends from Polka Theatre lead by the infamous Mr Toad arrived at the children’s wards at St George’s Hospital in Tooting on Friday, 14th December.
Polka’s production of The Wind in the Willows, based on the well loved book by Kenneth Grahame, has been delighting young audiences aged 5 – 11 since November and will run until 16th February 2013. Arriving in style adorned in his driving clothes, Toad led Ratty, Mole and Badger up the road to St George’s to delight and entertain the young people on the children’s wards.
Patients were dazzled by the arrival of the exuberant Mr Toad and his more humble friends as they brightened up the ward with Christmas cheer; signing autographs and answering questions. Departing from Polka’s Main Theatre for an afternoon to visit St George’s was a treat for the cast and a great opportunity for the theatre to be involved with the local community.
Rosie Littleboy, lead play specialist at the hospital, said: “We are so pleased that the cast of The Wind in the Willows were able to visit us. Christmas can be a really difficult time for children who are stuck in hospital and the visit provided lots of smiles and laughter for the children and their families.”
Patient Tia-Dior Blackman and the Wind in the Willows cast
Notes to editors
For all Polka press enquiries, please contact Dawn James on 020 8545 8354 or email: dawn@polkatheatre.com.
About Polka Theatre
Polka attracts more than 100,000 young people through its doors each year, most of whom are there to experience the excitement of live theatre for the first time. Polka was delighted to bring The Wind in the Willows to young people that might not be able to attend the theatre this Christmas.
Cast
| Nick Ash | Badger, Wild Wooder |
| Arran Glass | Duck, Ferret, Rabbit, Swallow, Black Rat |
| Ailsa Joy | Mole, Wild Wooder |
| Robert Saunders | Toad, Wild Wooder |
| Kanga Tanikye- Buah | Red Squirrel, Duck, Rabbit, Swallow, Girl, Wild Wooder |
| Phil Yarrow | Ratty |
Listings information
| Venue | Polka Theatre (Main Theatre) |
| Address | 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1SB |
| Dates | Until 16 February 2013 |
| Price | £10 – £16, concessions £11 |
| Box Office | www.polkatheatre.com / 020 8543 4888 |
For more information and for high resolution photography, please contact the Communications Unit on 020 8725 5151 or email: communications@stgeorges.nhs.uk. Outside working hours, please page us by calling 0844 822 2888, leaving a short message and contact details for pager SG548. High res photos available on request.
