BRAVING both wind and rain, the Tale Valley Community Theatre s performance of Wind in the Willows attracted nearly 200 people to Escot Park last month.

BRAVING both wind and rain, the Tale Valley Community Theatre's performance of Wind in the Willows attracted nearly 200 people to Escot Park last month.

Two outdoor performances, which drew on the talents of a host of local cast and crew, defied miserable weather to prove a hit on July 19.

Director John Somers said: "Performing outside is risky - not just because of the rain; we had the clear mountains of muck from the site after the electric fence failed and cows left their sloppy mark everywhere. Large amounts of sawdust were scattered to reduce the risk of slipping and everyone triumphed in the end. I expected very few people to see it due to the weather, but nearly two hundred turned up across the two performances. Audience responses would suggest it was a great success."

The Herald reported last month how Ottery artist Roy Clements painted twenty leaves with quotes from the play, which were placed in the field for audience members to read them as they approached the performance venue. He also crafted a model plane for the play.