ABOUT US
The existence of a mill at Bagnor is recorded in the Domesday Book and the building has served as a corn mill and a paper mill for hundreds of years with its beautiful tithe barn alongside. It was converted into a theatre in the early 1960’s and the first short professional season opened in 1967.
In recent years The Watermill has progressed into the top league of regional theatre with many shows produced here transferring to London or touring throughout the UK or overseas.
Particular artistic partnerships with directors such as Edward Hall, John Doyle and Craig Revel Horwood and musical director, Sarah Travis, have resulted in strands of work – Shakespeare and Music Theatre – that now have their own strong identity countrywide.
The Watermill is a resource for the surrounding community and beyond. Our aim is to spread knowledge and understanding about the arts and in particular the art of theatre, through the production of plays and related activities, including touring, working in schools, with youth and community groups and with businesses.
We actively encourage new writing and nurture talented individuals in all areas. Our programme of work is designed to entertain, to challenge and to enrich the quality of life for all, whether participants or audience.
The Watermill is particularly committed to developing new talent in all areas of the profession including actors, directors, designers, stage management, marketing and administration.
MUSIC THEATRE
Actor/musician work really began to establish itself at The Watermill from 1998. The work has attracted critical acclaim and national awards.
Three productions have transferred to London. Sweeney Todd ran for six-months at the Trafalgar Studios and then the New Ambassadors Theatre. It opened on Broadway in 2005 with an American cast and won two prestigious Tony Awards.
CABARET 1998
THE WIZARD OF OZ 1998
IRMA LA DOUCE 1999
CARMEN 2000
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 2000
PIAF 2001
CINDERELLA AND THE ENCHANTED SLIPPER 2001
THE GONDOLIERS 2001 - TMA Award Best Musical 2001
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF 2002 - TMA Award Best Musical 2002
TEN CENTS A DANCE 2002
SWEENEY TODD 2004
2006 TONY AWARDS
Best Musical Direction, John Doyle
Best Orchestrations, Sarah Travis
What's On Stage Theatre Goers Choice Awards 2005
Best Musical Revival & Best Ensemble Performance
Drama Dest Award (Broadway Production)
Outstanding Revival of a Musical
Outstanding Director of a Musical, John Doyle
Outstanding Orchestrations, Sarah Travis
Outstanding Lighting Design, Richard G Jones
MACK & MABEL 2005
2005 TMA Theatre Awards
Best Performance in a Musical, Anna-Jane Casey in Mack & Mabel
Nomination for Best Musical
Director and choreographer Craig Revel Horwood in partnership with musical director Sarah Travis, has continued to develop the actor-musican genre at The Watermill and have created three sell-out productions:
HOT MIKADO 2006
MARTIN GUERRE 2007
SUNSET BOULEVARD 2008 - Transferred to The Comedy Theatre in the West End
SHAKESPEARE
Edward Hall first worked at the theatre in 1995 when he directed OTHELLO. Henry V in 1997 was the first time he worked with an all-male company which subsequently became known as PROPELLER.
For more information about Propeller click on this link www.propeller.org.uk
1997 HENRY V
1998 HENRY V & THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
Toured for 10 weeks in South America, Europe and S.E. Asia
1999 TWELFTH NIGHT
TMA Award - Edward Hall, Best Director
2001 ROSE RAGE
an adaptation by Edward Hall and Roger Warren of Shakespeare’s trilogy HENRY V1 parts 1,2 and 3
TMA Award Best Touring Production
Transferred to the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2002
2003 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
TMA Best Touring
Transferred to the Comedy Theatre
Invited to Brooklyn Academy for the Arts, New York’s leading venue for international work in 2004
2005/06 THE WINTER’S TALE
2005 TMA Theatre Award
Best Director Nominee, Edward Hall
Toured for three months nationally and to Spain, S Ireland, USA and China
2006/07 THE TAMING OF THE SHREW/TWELFTH NIGHT
The Taming of the Shrew was presented as part of the RSC Complete Works Festival
Twelfth Night and The Taming of the Shrew was a co-production with the Old Vic
Toured for six months nationally and to Australia, Hong Kong, USA, Italy and Germany
OBIE AWARD (USA) FOR The Taming of the Shrew
MUSIC HALL
Helen Watson was introduced to Artistic Director, Jill Fraser, in the early 1980’s when she was looking for a way of producing Music Hall at The Watermill. Helen has produced a new programme for The Watermill every year since then ranging from pure music hall to variety to modern musicals. She has an amazing knowledge of the genre and is herself a talented artiste.
You can find out more about Miss Helen Watson and Friends by visiting her website at www.misshelenwatson.com