I first got involved with this version of ‘Wind in the Willows’ in April 2023 when I was asked by Hyde Little Theatre to write and play some folk style music for the songs in the play. In 2025 I repeated this for The Partington Theatre in Glossop, so when Carol Davies asked if I’d like to be involved in her production at the Millgate, I jumped at the chance.
In addition to the music I had written for the songs, Carol asked if I could also compose some incidental music to be used in the show.
I thought that it would be fitting if each character had their own theme. I already had a piece of music, written a couple of years ago, called Th’andsome Mowdywarp. Mowdywarp is an archaic term for a mole and, after changing the instrumentation from accordion to harp, it fitted perfectly.
The other tunes followed. Toad has his own songs, based on an arrangement of an Irish Jig. There’s one each for Ratty and Badger and something for the rabbits and weasels. Finally, without giving too much away, there’s a mash-up of everything for the penultimate scene.
I have written more music than will probably get used and it’s been tremendous fun putting all of this together.
Will it work? Well there’s only one way to find out and that’s to come and see the play.
If you’d like to find out more about me and my music then you can visit my website at https://ianfball.com or find me on your favourite streaming platform.
Listen to ‘(Rabbits Have) No Time to Take Five’ by Ian F Ball
See Ian F Ball in The Wind in the Willows at the Millgate Arts Centre from 14 – 21 November. Tickets available from TicketSource.
