MEMORIES were stirred of his York Theatre Royal pantomime debut when Martin Barrass was offered the role of Mr Toad in this summer’s Wind In The Willows.

“The first panto I did here, Sinbad The Sailor in 1984, the opening song was Messing About In Boats, and here I am now, messing about…” says Martin, who will star in Damian Cruden and Katie Posner’s production from July 22 to August 21.

“I was thrilled to bits to be asked because it’s a book I read at the age of ten, or tried to, as it’s so well-written but very wordy!

“I got through only a couple of pages a day but was absolutely hooked, and I think it must have been the first novel I read through to the end on my own.”

After stoically playing such scene-stealing creatures as a frog, a seal, Dangermouse, a centaur and a giant chicken – in a particularly uncomfortable costume – opposite dame Berwick Kaler in the Theatre Royal pantos, Martin now takes a big leap into the world of Mr Toad, Ratty and Mole. “And of course, frogs may hop but toads crawl, so I can’t do the panto hop, skip and a jump!” he says.

Mr Toad is a character with a lot of sides to him, suggests Martin.

“He’s someone who doesn’t want to grow up at all, and he’s lucky he’s inherited his father’s money as he’s been bequeathed Toad Hall, so he has the world at his feet,” he says.

“He can be very conceited; he can be very naïve, but also very wily…he’s good at getting out of scraps, but the overall thing about him, as Ratty says, is that he’s always happy to see you and sad to see you go.

“Essentially, he enjoys life to the full and he’s basically a good sort, with a generosity of spirit, who’s just overenthusiastic.

“Though he’s a frustrating character to listen to and be with, there are more pluses than minuses as he wants everyone else to be happy and that’s why children so engage with him.”

To book tickets, phone 01904 623568 or book online at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.