Autumn leaves gently floated down, coming to rest in dappled sunlight on the stream which flows alongside the Newbury Watermill. It is difficult to imagine a more beautiful or appropriate setting for a production of Kenneth Grahame’s classic story of river life, The Wind in the Willows.

“Oh my,” exclaims Mole (Naomi Sheldon), in a voice squeaky with excitement, “I’ve never seen a river before. Come to that, I’ve never met a water rat before.”

“My dear friend,” Ratty (Philip Buck) replies. “Have a ride in my boat.” But the idyllic scene is soon shattered as Toad (Howard Coggins) roars past in a motor boat, spraying the audience with very real water. Looking on in disgust is Badger (Steve Watts): “Pah,” he snorts, “I hate company.”

Toby Hulse’s adaptation sticks closely to the original storyline, but he also adds some touches of his own. In particular, Toad is shown to be even more prone to self-aggrandisment than the book suggests: boasting that he has managed an ingenious escape from an impregnable prison, we in the Watermill audience know that the truth is different. The prison consisted of an upturned jam jar, and Toad has actually been released by a sympathetic passing human child. There were gales of youthful laughter as Toad duly got his comeuppance for being a flagrant and fluent liar.

Jack Beale and Lauren Storer complete the cast, playing assorted (very Welsh) rabbits, ducks, squirrels, and ferrets. In true Watermill tradition, the uniformly excellent cast are all actor-musicians, and play Simon Slater’s catchy blues-meets-country score live on stage. The menacing ferrets who invade Toad Hall during its owner’s self-indulgent absence proved a touch too frightening for a very small audience member the day I saw the show, but few will fail to enjoy this utterly captivating, charming production.

Until January 7. Tickets: www.watermill.org.uk or 01635 46044.