Alan Bennett’s adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows has become as well established as the original novel. I got the chance to speak with Jack Lord, who plays Ratty in this season’s production at West Yorkshire Playhouse

Hello Jack, it’s a pleasure to be interviewing you today.

First of all, for most people ‘The Wind in the Willows’ really evokes a sense of nostalgia and takes them back to their childhood. What drew you to this production particularly?

Well first of all, it’s at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, where I’ve always wanted to perform. Also, the director Ian Brown was a big draw. I have children of my own too so doing something like this had great appeal; it’s just an old classic tale.

So what is it like working with Ian Brown? Do you admire any of his past work?

Yeah I do, he used to run this building so he was definitely one of the draws, you know, he’s been working at the playhouse for ten years and coming back for this show at Christmas so I really wanted to get involved.

Your latest stage credits have most recently included Shakespearian productions. How does your newest role differ?

(Laughs) Well, it’s easier on one level, the language is more straightforward. But it was also a bigger challenge in another way because the principle audience is children; you can’t get away with being average. You have to give them a truthful, honest performance; the challenge is to keep it real. But I think if you held a gun to my head I would say my favourite work is Shakespeare, that’s just what I love to do.

And of course, a large portion of the colourful cast is made up of younger cast members. What was it like working with the children? How did they shape the experience for you?

Yeah, it was lovely to have them really bring an extra focus to the room.  We really felt as professionals that we should be on the ball when performing. But they’ve been so great. They’re going to steal the show because they’re so cute (laughs).

Tell us how you got stuck into your role as the charismatic Ratty. How did you become the furry lover of ‘messing about in boats’?

(Laughs) Well the first thing I did was actually ‘Youtube’ water voles, as Ratty is actually a water rat; they’re very tiny and cute, a bit like gerbils actually so I also watched my daughter’s gerbil in its cage, eating and twitching. But the characters are also very human. Ratty loves the river and sailing. There was really that sense of England- a very nostalgic yearning, that real mindset of old fashioned values.

Jack, it’s been lovely speaking to you, thank you very much for your time and very good luck with the production in December

 Emma Chaplin