Centrestage Productions YOUTH THEATRE – THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS – the point eastleigh ’til 21st February
Reviewed: Pat Hayward 18th February 2026
We were so impressed when we saw Centrestage Productions Youth Theatre production of Kinky Boots last summer, that when we received an invite to see their latest production we jumped at the chance. It is very difficult for major professional companies to maintain the highest standards between productions, so I can only imagine how difficult it is, if not impossible, for local amateur companies. So we came along to see how Centrestage could meet the challenges set with The Wind In The Willows.
Firstly, this is a little known musical that ran in Plymouth, Salford and at Mayflower Theatre in Southampton ahead of a 2017 season at the London Palladium. For most in the audience last night it would have been the first time that they’ve heard any of the music in the show, written by George Stiles with lyrics by Anthony Drewe, notable for their musical Honk! and the updating of classic shows Mary Poppins and Half A Sixpence. They worked together with Julian Fellowes who developed the original story for this musical version (Julian is probably best known as the creator of Downton Abbey).
From the moment that the show started down on the River Bank, we knew that we were in for something special. From the opening bars of the first number ‘Spring’ by the 16 piece orchestra in the pit of ‘point eastleigh’ we knew this was going to be something special as we were introduced to all of the inhabitants of the River Bank and the Wild Wood. Having met the 70 or so members of the cast we are swiftly transported to the river as two of the real stars of this show meet for the first time. These are Ratty and Mole – the two characters that are pivotal to the whole story and immediately we knew that we weren’t going to be disappointed. Sam Fitzsimmons as Mole and Josh Elway as Ratty are totally believable and that is without fancy dress and masks, purely by their ability to perform.
Ratty has a friend, Mrs Otter played by Molly Swan who is always calling on Ratty and Mole’s help to find her misbehaving daughter Portia, who’s always running off to explore. It’s a while before we meet Mr. Toad, Will Vokes, displaying every element of arrogance that we knew he should possess, all of which is overlooked by our two heroes, Ratty and Mole whose aim is to calm him down and get him to behave more rationally. Toad’s wagon is pulled by a horse who is delicately played by Willow White. It’s not long before we’re introduced to the Wild Wood and their inhabitants. We have rabbits, field mice, hares, squirrels, hedgehogs and then the larger residents – the weasels are led by Jack Fenner whose singing and dancing skills wouldn’t be misplaced in a professional production and is supported by Cerys May as Lesser Weasel, Eva Perraton as Sheryl leads the stoats helped by Flo Seagal as Enamoured Stoat. The one stabilising element in Wild Wood is Badger, brilliantly played by Sam Head who displays all the dignity and common sense that enables order to be restored.
This is a production that would be beyond the financial resources of most professional companies. Where today would you find a 16 piece orchestra or a cast of more than 30? You would have to move out of musical theatre and into the realms of heavily subsidised opera and ballet. But, size isn’t everything and Centrestage recognise this, in fact Director Mike Mullen has the ability to recognise talent and he has the skills to harness it. Together with Musical Directors Ian Partridge and Rachael Thorpe they have created a musical production, with perfect sound and sets atmospherically lit which would grace any theatre. Add to that the obvious talents of choreographer Summer Hughes who manages to get complex dance moves into the largest ensemble pieces and get them performed with almost perfect precision.
But the final accolades need to go to the cast from the smallest field mice to the overblown Mr. Toad – they are magnificent. And for sure, bigger things in theatre await them and very soon I would expect to see Sam Head, Jack Fenner and Josh Elway in larger theatres than here in the magnificent point eastleigh. The Wind In The Willows proves that Kinky Boots was no flash in the pan – it was an example of how diverse in every element of performance Centrestage Productions Youth Theatre is – and what an incredible company this is.
And as I said after Kinky Boots, I’ll say again – Magnificent, Brilliant, Splendid, Fascinating, Enjoyable, What A Show – if this is what Youth Theatre is all about – then bring it on.
Grab a ticket, The Wind In The Willows is on at The Point Eastleigh until 21st February.
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