"It’s not a bit like a car or a boat you know, it’s like a bird, it’s the most magical feeling I've ever had.”
May 1930. Amy Johnson has a dream, but just how far will her dream take her?
As the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia, Amy’s career reached new heights, but the outbreak of the Second World War changed everything, and she finds herself facing her greatest challenge yet. Driven by the need to escape from one life to another, follow Amy’s journey from humble beginnings to become one of Britain’s most influential female aviators.
A powerful play about one of the most inspirational women of the twentieth century, Lone Flyer returns to The Watermill following a hugely successful run in 2020.
Age guidance 8+
Running time: approximately 1 hour 50 minutes including 20 minute interval
‘Powerful, affecting drama’
★★★★ The Guardian
‘An uplifting story… Edifying biopic told with passion, humour and attention to detail’
★★★★ The Stage
‘Our imagination is borne up, up and away’
The Telegraph
Socially Distanced Performances
We understand that some audience members may feel more comfortable attending a performance with more space between themselves and other audience members, so we are pleased to offer two socially distanced performances each week during Lone Flyer. Socially distanced performances will take place on:
Wednesday 15 September at 2.30pm
Friday 17 September at 7.30pm
Tuesday 21 September at 7.30pm
Saturday 25 September at 2.30pm
Accessible Performances
British Sign Language integrated
Saturday 25 September at 7.30pm
Performed by Lixi Chivas
Audio Described
Saturday 25 September at 2.30pm (Touch Tour starts at 1pm)
For further information about accessible performances please visit our Access page.
Written by Ade Morris
Directed by Lucy Betts
Design by Isobel Nicolson
Lighting design by Harry Armytage
Sound design by Justin Teasdale
Rehearsal Deputy Stage Manager Emily Stedman
Deputy Stage Manager Georgia Dacey
Assistant Stage Manager Natalie Toney
Sign Performer Lixi Chivas
BSL Sign Integration Consultant Charlotte Moulton-Thomas
Audio Description Jenny Stewart-Cosgrove
Original Sound Design Thom Townsend and Jamie Kubisch-Wiles
Louise Willoughby
Amy Johnson
Born and bred in Hull, Louise attended the Northern Theatre Company from a young age before training at LSMT graduating in 2009 with Distinction.
Theatre credits include: Prince Charming’s Christmas Cracker (Hull Truck); No Horizon (UK Tour); Little Women (ERT); Mortar (Theatre Uncut); The Lightless Pumpkin (ERT); Les Miserables (Grange Park Opera); Grease (RCCL); Baby (Baron’s Court); Hope (Bridewell Theatre); As You Like It (LSMT); Top Girls (LSMT)
Screen credits include: Rabbit; Day Street; B-Negative; The Broken Teeth of Lions; Alfie’s Story; Pieces and Commercials for Sainsbury’s Christmas 2020; Your Local Services and HSamuel.
Being from Hull, Louise is thrilled to be playing Amy Johnson.
Benedict Salter
‘The Man’/ all other roles
Benedict trained at LAMDA.
Previous Watermill credits include: Lone Flyer (2020); The Importance of Being Earnest (2019) and A Little Night Music (2017).
Previous theatre credits include: Lone Flyer (Jermyn Street Theatre); A Christmas Carol (Derby Theatre); Vespertilio (VAULT Festival and Dublin Fringe); Lady Windermere’s Fan (West End); The Last Days of Anne Boleyn (Tower of London); An Inspector Calls (West End); Shakespeare in Music (RSC/Southbank Sinfonia).
Whilst training at LAMDA credits include: Hjalmar Ekdal in The Wild Duck; David in Mydidae; and Duke Solinus & Doctor Pinch in The Comedy of Errors.
Benedict was also a BBC Carleton Hobbs Bursary Award finalist in 2016.
Lixi Chivas
Sign Performer
Our sign integrated performance is on Saturday 25 September at 7.30pm. Contact the box office for specially reserved seats with best view of the signing.