Typographic and pictorial poster advertising matinee performances of Toad of Toad Hall by A.A. Milne at the Comedy Theatre, 18 December 1962, featuring Peter Woodthorpe as Toad, John Warner as Ratty, Michael Blakemore as Badger and Timothy Harley as Mole.

Screen-printed poster in green and dark brown ink, featuring at the top the name of the theatre COMEDY THEATRE in green ink, and its location PANTON STREET, HAYMARKET, SW1, in dark brown ink. The rest of the poster features the names of the producer, director, assistant director and creative team, and the major actors, as well as a central image of Mr. Toad in his driving goggles and coat, brandishing his driving hat in the air with his right hand, and the words TOAD OF TOAD HALL in a swirling pattern to his left, with images of three flowers. A further image of mole and ratty features in the bottom right-hand corner.

Bequeathed by John Warner

Poster advertising the new Christmas season of matinee productions of Toad of Toad Hall by A.A. Milne, adapted from the novel A Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, presented by David Conville at the Comedy Theatre, commencing 18 December 1962. The cast features Peter Woodthorpe as Toad, John Warner as Ratty, Michael Blakemore as Badger and Timothy Harley as Mole. The poster notes that it was directed by David Williams; the assistant director was John Warner; the design was by Peter Rice; the choreography was Geraldine Stephenson; the lighting was by Richard Pilbrow and the orchestra was conducted by John Pritchett.

Toad of Toad Hall, the play based on The Wind in the Willows, by A.A. Milne, was produced annually in the West End from 1930 until 1934, and in 1954, and again annually from 1960 until 1965. John Warner, who bequeathed the poster to the museum, played the role of Ratty three times in the 1960s, playing with Richard Goolden, the almost legendary actor who played Mole.

S.628-2001