A ROWLEY actor is swapping Sandwell for the charming world of Wind and the Willows this Christmas season.

Duane Hannibal is performing in the Birmingham Repertory Theatre production of Kenneth Grahame’s charming tale of Mole, Ratty and Toad at the Crescent Theatre.

Duane, aged 32, will be playing Weasel Norman throughout the production which runs from Wednesday until Saturday, January 19.

The former Halesowen College pupil said: “I am delighted to be in the cast for this great production of Wind and the Willows, I grew up with the story as a child and it is brilliant to be part of this great cast.

“The production is very visual and the cast play instruments too so it is a wonderful production for the whole family and as it is an Alan Bennett adaptation it is really audience friendly.”

Though playing one of the dastardly Weasels Duane is enjoying the role.

He said: “Though the weasels are the supposed to be the baddies in the show I like to describe us as the more misunderstood characters in Wind and the Willows.”

Duane is also enjoying working near home after appearing in shows across the country.

“I will be expecting lots of family and friends to be coming to watch the show and it is nice being the local boy in the cast as a lot of the actors are from either London or Manchester.”

Tickets for Wind in the Willows cost between £9 to £28 and for more information visit www.birmingham-rep.co.uk.