Summer Youth Production Returns for August 2025

Following The Grand’s smash-hit Summer Youth Production of Bugsy Malone the Musical in 2024, the theatre’s creative and production teams are thrilled to be opening the doors (and the riverbank!) to work with young people from all across the Fylde Coast and beyond once again

The Wind in The Willows musical is based on Kenneth Grahame’s beloved tale of animal friends and riverbank neighbours Mole, Rat, Toad and Badger; with book by Oscar-winning screenwriter and Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes and songs by Olivier Award-winning composers and lyricists George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.

The Grand’s Summer Youth Production is open to everyone from seasoned performers to first timers and is the perfect place for young people to make a splash and experience the magic of musical theatre with full professional direction, choreography and vocal coaching.

Director of The Wind in The Willows and Blackpool Grand Theatre Creative Programme Producer, Mykey J Young, said of this year’s magnificent musical production: “We launched the Summer Youth Production programme last year with Bugsy Malone and it was such an overwhelming success that we have once again invited young people to join us over three exciting weeks to learn, rehearse and perform a fully staged musical on the Grand Theatre's main stage, professionally produced by a talented team of theatre makers.

This production is also supported by The Grand Young Technicians – a popular programme for young people aged between 14 and 19 which is generously supported by The Backstage Trust and offers participants the chance to work alongside a professional technical crew on a live production in a nurturing and supportive environment.

Mykey added: “The commitment of all the young people we work with at The Grand is something that never ceases to amaze me and everyone will be blown away by this year’s cast and crew I’m sure. Lucky audience members will get to see some incredible young people having the best time of their lives in a beautiful and fun production. They’ll all have worked so hard to and will have such an incredible energy that I promise audiences will find it very special to watch.”

The Summer Youth Production of Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in The Willows is presented by Blackpool Grand Theatre from Thursday 14 August to Saturday 16 August with evening and matinee performances.