http://www.watermill.org.uk/This is the syndication feed for www.watermill.org.ukOrganised by The Friends of The Watermill the Social Bridge Lunch is open to all. Chicago Bridge Format £60 per table (only £15 per person) to include a light one-course lunch and glass of wine or soft drink. Tables provided, but please bring your own Bridge cloths and cards’http://www.watermill.org.uk/social_bridge_lunch.html18/01/2012 16:52:42 We are seeking a number of ‘extras’, or supernumeraries, to help us with the forthcoming production of Lettice and Lovage. Lettice and Lovage opens in the Grand Hall of Fustian House, a stately home in Wiltshire. During the first few scenes we see different groups of visitors on a tour around the stately home. If you were selected as an extra in Lettice and Lovage your role would be to portray these visitors on their trip through the Grand Hall of Fustian House. We cannot offer a fee but this is a great opportunity to work with professionals and hopefully have some fun. You will need to be over 18 to apply. We are looking for a small group of people so that the schedule of 8 performances per week can be covered on an agreed rota and you would be required for rehearsals and performances between 23 January and 24 March 2012. You may be required for up to 4 shows a week, please specify your availability on the attached application form. If you are interested, please contact Heidi at outreach@watermill.org.uk for an application form.  Forms must be returned by Wednesday 18 January. Shortlisted applicants will be required to attend a workshop with the director and the assistant director in January, date to be confirmed. http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_watermill_seeks_extras_for_lettice_and_lovage.html13/01/2012 11:21:46 Sir Patrick Stewart entertained The Watermill audience with anecdotes about his career in theatre and film, raising over £8,000 for The Watermill. Interviewed as part of the 'An Audience With...' series of  fundraising events by his old friend, Euan Smith, associate director of the theatre, he answered an array of questions and mingled with guests in the theatre restaurant afterwards. http://www.watermill.org.uk/sir_patrick_stewart_raises_over_£8000_for_the_watermill.html22/12/2011 13:51:11Our fundraising lunches are special social events and include a unique talk about the activities behind the scenes at The Watermill, shedding light on the creative process, the team and the running of the theatre. You will receive a glass of wine on arrival to enjoy during the talk. This is followed by a light lunch, coffee and a matinee performance. These exclusive events are held in the Lily Pond.http://www.watermill.org.uk/insiders_lunch_ben_hur.html07/12/2011 16:55:09Our insider's lunches are special social events and include a unique talk about the activities behind the scenes at The Watermill, shedding light on the creative process, the team and the running of the theatre. Our speaker at this event is Selina Cadell who will play Lettice Douffet in Lettice & Lovage. You will receive a glass of wine on arrival to enjoy during the talk. This is followed by a light lunch, coffee and a matinee performance. These exclusive events are held in the Lily Pond.http://www.watermill.org.uk/insiders_lunch_lettice_and_lovage.html07/12/2011 16:42:07With Karen Sopp, Specialist Event Florist “As a little girl I always wanted to have a flower shop, rows of cream buckets filled with flowers; piled high making a statement for the season - like fashion only with nature taking centre stage...” http://www.watermill.org.uk/christmas_wreath_workshop.html01/12/2011 12:46:11 Sir Patrick Stewart is kindly donating his time to help raise funds for The Watermill Theatre, appearing as a guest in the theatre's series of 'An Audience With...' events.  An eminent stage, film and television actor, Sir Patrick is a passionate advocate for the arts. Audience members will have the opportunity to meet him after he has spoken about his career at an informal gathering in the theatre's bar and lily pond.http://www.watermill.org.uk/sir_patrick_stewart_raises_funds_for_the_watermill.html15/11/2011 11:43:07The film, television and stage actor, Sir Patrick Stewart has had a distinguished career for around half a century. He is widely known for his roles, such as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation  and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men film series. Sir Patrick is also a stalwart of British theatre, appearing alongside Sir Ian McKellen as the lead duo of Vladimir and Estragon, in Waiting for Godot in 2009.  Most recently Sir Patrick played Shylock in The Merchant of Venice at the RSC.  He is a passionate advocate for the arts and is generously giving his time to help raise funds for The Watermill.  http://www.watermill.org.uk/an_audience_with_sir_patrick_stewart.html03/11/2011 15:09:36 Selina Cadell will play the role of Lettice Douffet in our forthcoming production of Peter Shaffer’s, Lettice & Lovage which opens on 16 February.  Selina has a distinguished theatrical career including roles in The Cherry Orchard and The Duchess of Malfi at The National Theatre, Top Girls at the Royal Court and in New York, and Twelfth Night and Uncle Vanya at the Donmar Warehouse and Brooklyn Academy. She has also directed for theatre. Her television drama work includes Doc Martin, Casanova, Foyle’s War and Murphy’s Law. Selina’s film career includes The Madness of King George which she also appeared in onstage. http://www.watermill.org.uk/selina_cadell_to_play_lettice_douffet_in_lettice_and_lovage.html01/11/2011 13:09:06Choose exquisite and desirable gifts and treats, all hand-picked for their quality and originality. The Watermill’s historic tithe barn and beautiful buildings make it the perfect place to shop, lunch and socialise in traditional Christmas style. Gifts  Whether you’re looking for a fashion accessory that exudes effortless elegance, a stunning decoration or a sumptuous gift, you will be spoilt for choice.  We have chosen suppliers with original and unusual gifts to help you find the perfect present for those you love. Food  Discover exquisite, locally sourced food, from cheeses to Christmas confectionary, alongside the very best Christmas essentials, including luxury Christmas puddings and cakes. Meet artisan producers and discover delicious, seasonal delicacies to taste and take home. Refreshments  Take time to meet a friend for a coffee, mulled wine, mince pie, or combine a quick lunch of soup or a roll with shopping – bring a friend to get you in the mood for Christmas! Support the Watermill’s Christmas Bazaar and find all your Christmas treats under one roof!http://www.watermill.org.uk/christmas_bazaar_2011.html31/10/2011 12:54:32Spend the day with a group of like-minded people learning the songs, and then perform them in the evening in our beautiful barn. Music is provided and there are no auditions. Open to anyone over 14 years.http://www.watermill.org.uk/scratch_choir_rodgers_and_hammerstein.html30/10/2011 10:59:03Spend the day with a group of like-minded people learning the songs, and then perform them in the evening in our beautiful barn. Music is provided and there are no auditions. Open to anyone over 14 years.http://www.watermill.org.uk/scratch_choir_opera_choruses.html30/10/2011 10:52:04If you’re interested in what goes on behind the scenes, then come along to one of our backstage tours where you’ll get to meet the staff, see where the actors prepare and visit the fascinating old and new buildings that make up The Watermill. Tickets £28.50 Price includes a tour of the theatre, one course meal with coffee and a ticket for that day’s matinée performance. http://www.watermill.org.uk/backstage_tour_ben_hur.html30/10/2011 10:39:53If you’re interested in what goes on behind the scenes, then come along to one of our backstage tours where you’ll get to meet the staff, see where the actors prepare and visit the fascinating old and new buildings that make up The Watermill. Tickets £28.50 Price includes a tour of the theatre, one course meal with coffee and a ticket for that day’s matinée performance. http://www.watermill.org.uk/backstage_tour_of_mice_and_men.html30/10/2011 10:32:43If you’re interested in what goes on behind the scenes, then come along to one of our backstage tours where you’ll get to meet the staff, see where the actors prepare and visit the fascinating old and new buildings that make up The Watermill. Tickets £28.50 Price includes a tour of the theatre, one course meal with coffee and a ticket for that day’s matinée performance. http://www.watermill.org.uk/backstage_tour_love_on_the_tracks.html28/10/2011 19:52:59If you’re interested in what goes on behind the scenes, then come along to one of our backstage tours where you’ll get to meet the staff, see where the actors prepare and visit the fascinating old and new buildings that make up The Watermill. Tickets £29 Price includes a tour of the theatre, one course meal with coffee and a ticket for that day’s matinée performance. http://www.watermill.org.uk/backstage_tour_lettice_and_lovage.html28/10/2011 19:47:09He’s back by popular demand! James Campbell is a stand up comedian for children, their parents and anyone who likes comedy without the rude words. His show may cover ways to make parsnips interesting, how to look a chicken in both eyes at the same time and why owls don’t like Easter. James may also attempt a new world record in badger hurdling and doing loop the loop with his 93 year old Auntie Histamine. The show may also involve three dancing oatcakes called Celia, Amelia and Deal-or-no-Delia and a discussion on ‘Horses: Friends or Big Headed Twits?’ (Contents may vary and the actual show may not involve any of the above). Side effects may include yoursides hurting...http://www.watermill.org.uk/james_campbells_comedy_4_kids.html28/10/2011 17:11:20The tale of the unhappy duckling who grows into a beautiful swan. Lashings of catchy tunes, magical storytelling and a whole heap of farmyard fun! From the creators of The Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business.http://www.watermill.org.uk/kipper_ties_the_ugly-duckling.html28/10/2011 17:04:18Felix Francis, the younger son of the legendary jockey and bestselling writer Dick Francis, was involved in the research and writing of his father’s novels for almost 40 years. He has now taken over the authorship of the Dick Francis novels, following the death of his father in 2010.http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_watermill_book_club_felix_francis.html28/10/2011 16:55:33An amateur production For a man, marriage is simply a matter of money and property. What’s love got to do with it? For a woman, marriage is all about love. Throw in a young woman disguised as a man, a servant who discovers this, and a marriage contract that needs to be broken, and you have a recipe for chaos.http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_box_theatre_company_presents_the_false_servant.html28/10/2011 16:35:47Inspired by Charlotte Peake’s own life and magical Edwardian original stories, and performed by local people in the unique and beautiful setting of Welford Park. This dramatic, all-dancing, all-singing event promises to be as unique and memorable as ever, using the ‘Big House’ itself as an essential character. So bring the family, pack a picnic and enjoy the real-ale bar in the landscaped grounds, then, as darkness falls, be entranced by the extraordinary storyunfolding. Tickets Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday matinee and Sunday £9. Friday and Saturday evening £12. Concessions: £3 off 7 & under free.http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_boxford_masques_a_little_drama_at_the_big_house.html28/10/2011 16:20:43'You are mesmerised. This show is a gem. If I weren’t a Shakespeare junkie, Pennington would have turned me into one.’ Sunday Timeshttp://www.watermill.org.uk/michael_penningtons_sweet_william.html28/10/2011 15:58:04They said it was... unstageable.  They said it was... unachievable.  They said it was... impossible in today’s financial climate.  But we’re doing it anyway! From the Olivier and Tony award-winning adaptor and producers of The West End, Broadway and Global sensation The 39 Steps The Watermill is overawed to present an unbelievably spectacular and never-before seen stage version of the novel by General ‘Lew’ Wallace. Almost certainly the greatest book ever penned...  Experts say no book has ever been so widely read... In true theatrical, live 3-D with genuine smellorama! Performed on stage for the first time ever with a maximum of four actors playing all twelve thousand and fifty-nine characters! And featuring... An authentic sea battle (with genuine water) Spectacular and historic recreation of Ancient Rome Unexpurgated and decadent Roman orgy (suitable for all ages) and not forgetting our awe-inspiring and unforgettable climactic sequence... The sensational live chariot race (with real chariots)! Patrick Barlow, aka Desmond Olivier Dingle, the renowned Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Brent, is known to Radio 4 listeners for the series Iconic Icons. “Hugely entertaining... . Clever, witty, ingenious” ****  Sunday Times (The 39 Steps review)http://www.watermill.org.uk/patrick_barlows_ben_hur.html28/10/2011 15:15:15Lennie and George drift from ranch to ranch like tumbleweed, looking for work. They are two amongst thousands of farm workers destined to a lonely life on the road in America during the height of the Great Depression. But unlike so many other guys, they have each other for company - friends in a hostile world. They share a dream of owning their own little place someday, where they’ll live off the fat of the land. John Steinbeck’s great play beautifully describes the touching relationship between Lennie, a giant of a man with the mind of a gentle child, and the wiry, shrewd George, who looks out for him and needs him in equal measure. Lennie’s desire to pet soft things has already caused them to run from the law. Can George keep him out of trouble long enough for them to realise their dream? Widely considered a twentieth century classic, this is an opportunity to see a deeply moving play by one of America’s greatest writers.http://www.watermill.org.uk/of_mice_and_men.html28/10/2011 14:53:56Inspired by the short stories of Anton Chekhov On a summer’s evening in 1890, a train pulls out of Moscow station. On board sit three fretful passengers, each with an extraordinary tale to tell. As their stories are played out in a series of delightful comic vignettes, the drama in the carriage tantalisingly unfolds. Love on the Tracks is a romantic comedy inspired by the early stories and farces of Anton Chekhov. Full of light-hearted humour and wonderfully eccentric characters, Love on the Tracks presents a 19th century world of dysfunctional marriage, traumatic romance and rampant infidelity - in a very modern way! Writer Richard Attlee, who also performs in Love on the Tracks, is best known for his role as Kenton Archer in the BBC Radio 4 series The Archers. He appeared at The Watermill in Moonlight & Magnolias. Tickets Thursday and Saturday matinées £14, £14.50. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings £14.50, £21, £23. Friday and Saturday evenings £15.50, £23, £25.http://www.watermill.org.uk/love_on_the_tracks.html28/10/2011 14:16:32Henry V tells the tale of the greatest British warrior in English folklore. At a time when nationalism is at its most dangerous and increasing numbers of British servicemen and women are seeing active service, Propeller brings its own unique take on one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays. Thrilling and deeply moving, Henry V marks the beginning of a journey that takes us from the corridors of Westminster to the fields of France in an evening of unforgettable power. http://www.watermill.org.uk/henry_v_and_the_winters_tale.html28/10/2011 13:09:03Life has taken a downhill turn for bestselling romantic novelist Martin: his wife has left him, he’s moved in with his mum, and his agent thinks he’s a woman called Francesca. Worst of all, the script of his next romance is due by the end of the week, and he’d really rather write about hunky CIA agents. Meanwhile, up the road lives Amy, whose glamorous, breezy life as a Hollywood scriptwriter couldn’t be better. Luckily for Martin, his mum knows Amy’s mum, and they’re coming over for a drink later…http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_watermill_senior_youth_theatre_presents_writers_block.html28/10/2011 12:50:07The flamboyant Lettice Douffet decides to inject some theatricality into her role as tour guide in the least interesting stately home in England. She turns a minor incident on the staircase of Faustian House, involving Queen Elizabeth and the hem of her elaborate gown, into an epic romantic saga. Her captive audience is delighted, but Lotte Schoen, the straight-laced bureaucrat from the Preservation Trust, is unimpressed. She calls Lettice to her office and fires her. http://www.watermill.org.uk/lettice_and_lovage.html28/10/2011 12:39:02Sarah Raven proved a very popular Book Club guest last year and  we are delighted to welcome her back. Sarah is as well known a gardener as she is a cook. Her new book Sarah Raven’s Wild Flowers is described as a botanical marvel and would make a lovely Christmas gift which you can have signed by Sarah. http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_watermill_book_club_sarah_raven_2011.html14/10/2011 15:58:37 The Watermill is a lovely place to celebrate Christmas and we're taking bookings for Christmas parties now! On  Friday 16 December we're having a Christmas Disco.   A  three course meal with coffee and petit fours followed by a DJ until 11.30pm at a cost of £29.95 per head. If you want an altogether more relaxed time, book your Christmas meal with us before 31 October your three course meal will cost £20.95 per head (normally £25.95). This offer is available for groups of 10 or more. Click here to see our Christmas menu and to find out how to book http://www.watermill.org.uk/its_party_time_book_for_christmas_now.html07/10/2011 16:50:41 Neil Bartlett's stunning adaptation of the Dickensian masterpiece will be performed by a  terrific cast of both experienced actors and rising talent. Kazia Pelka (Maggie in TV's Heartbeat, Hazel Wilding in Coronation Street and DSI Melissa Temple in New Tricks) will play Miss Haversham. Jed Aukin (Shared Experience) Mr Publechook/Sarah Pocket & Bentley Drummie, Emma Beattie (Donmar) Mrs Jo/Biddy/Wemmick, Stephen Finegold (Shared Experience, The National Theatre) Magwitch, Russell Layton (Globe, RSC, Salisbury Playhouse) Joe Gargery/Mr Jaggers and Thomas Padden (Propellers' Richard III and The Comedy of Errors and John Doyle's Merrily We Roll Along) Pocket/Compeyson/Wopsle. Up and coming talent Edward Hancock  and Mabel Jones will play Pip and Estella http://www.watermill.org.uk/great_expectations_cast_announced.html31/08/2011 15:33:32*SOLD OUT* For ages: 8 – 16 yrs Are you a fan of Glee? If you love singing then this is the course for you!  The Watermill forms its very own Glee-style Musical Theatre choir, singing some fantastic arrangements of the greatest songs from the West End and Broadway.  At the end of the day you’ll perform what you’ve learnt for your family and friends. Price: £30 http://www.watermill.org.uk/show_choir.html22/08/2011 12:24:14Our fundraising lunches are special social events and include a unique talk about the activities behind the scenes at The Watermill, shedding light on the creative process, the team and the running of the theatre. You will receive a glass of wine on arrival to enjoy during the talk. This is followed by a light lunch and coffee and a matinee performance. These exclusive events are held in the Lily Pond courtyard from 12.45pm. Fundraising Lunches support the theatre's valuable work with young people in the local community. If you would like to book a ticket or make a group booking, please contact Ria on 01635 570915 or ria@watermill.org.uk We look forward to welcoming you. Tickets £38http://www.watermill.org.uk/fundraising_lunch_great_expectations.html02/08/2011 14:31:18 Anna-Jayne Casey will play the part of Olive opposite Gary Wilmot's Sammy Shaw in The Watermill's revival of Noel Gay's Radio Times.  Anna-Jane  will be remembered at The Watermill for her role as Mabel in Mack and Mabel opposite David Soul which won her a TMA award for Best Performance in a Musical. Her musical appearances at The Menier Chocolate Factory include Sunday In The Park with George and Forbidden Broadway Anna-Jane and Gary are joined by an exceptionally talented cast: Darren Bennett (Gary), Sophie Byrne (Grosvenor Girl), Vivien Carter (Amy), Robin Colyer (Grosvenor Man), Christian Edwards (Jeep), Paul Herbert (Show MD), Julian Littman (Wilf), Sophie Scott (Grosvenor Girl), Sarah Scowen (Grosvenor Girl) and Andrew C Wadsworth (Bultitude).Click here for more information and to book http://www.watermill.org.uk/West End star Anna-Jane Casey to appear in Radio Times.html04/07/2011 12:43:39The Watermill offers a rare opportunity to meet the award-winning writer, TV and radio presenter, zoologist, wildlife photographer and outspoken conservationist, Mark Carwardine. He is probably best known as the charming zoologist who accompanied Steven Fry on Last Chance to See, the BBC series exploring how a motley collection of endangered species had fared in the 20 years since the publication of the book of the same name by Mark and the late Douglas Adams.  Mark’s gift for thrilling story-telling gave Steven Fry a run for his money; and his very personal encounter with Sirocco the Kakapo in New Zealand became one of the most watched clips on You Tube. There will be fascinating tales of his legendary whale watching trips and the impact of close encounters with these gentle creatures. There will be hair-raising tales about being shot at, kidnapped, beaten up and almost drowned in the ongoing fight against poachers. Tour leading, David Attenborough, collaborating with Bill Bryson – all or any could be covered.  His experiences over the last 25 years are extraordinary; with his self-deprecating humour and well-developed sense of the ridiculous, this will be a highly entertaining hour. There will be a retiring collection for one of Mark’s favourite charities, Save the Rhino. http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_watermill_book_club_mark_carwardine.html20/05/2011 09:56:17Entertainment, stalls, activities, great food and, of course, our annual duck race on the River Lambourn. Entertainment includes the Aldbrickham Country Dance Band with Marianne Segal and friends, and Punch & Judy.http://www.watermill.org.uk/summer_fair_2011.html09/05/2011 16:06:29The Last Flannelled Fool My small part in English cricket's demise and its large part in mine If you love cricket and enjoy a good laugh then you’ll want to hear Michael Simkins talking about his year watching his beloved cricket to see if it can bring comfort and meaning to his middle-aged life.  From the Test grounds of Lords and the Oval to historic Hambledon and beautiful Queen’s Park, Chesterfield, it is a trip that takes him back to the light drizzle of childhood holidays and on to some of the grounds and fixtures he has always meant to visit.   In the course of his travels, Michael faces down Freddie Flintoff, visits the burial site of his favourite ground (now a Marks & Spencer), heroically tries to fall in love with T20, and chews over the spirit of the game with fellow fans across the country.   Actor Michael Simkins is also the author of the critically acclaimed Fatty Batter, which was shortlisted for the 2008 Costa Biography Award and has gone on to sell more than 55,000 copies, and Detour de France and What’s My Motivation? “One of Britain’s funniest writers” Daily Mail Tickets: £5 BUY 2 AUTHORS, GET 1 FREE! Book tickets to see two Book Club authors and see a third author for free! This offer applies to the following authors: Michael Simkins Stella Tillyard (10 June) Sara Wheeler (25 July) If you book, for example, two tickets to see Michael Simkins and two for Sara Wheeler, you can claim two free tickets for another of the authors listed.  The offer is subject to availability. To take advantage of this offer please book through the Box Office on 01635 46044. Our restaurant will be serving a hot and cold buffet lunch from 12 noon. If you would like to make a reservation, please do so when you book your tickets. http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_watermill_book_clulb_michael_simkins.html04/05/2011 14:54:32Our fantastically popular scratch choir is back, offering the opportunity to spend the day with a group of like-minded people learning the songs, and then performing them in the evening in our beautiful tithe barn. Music is provided and there are no auditions. Places are open to anyone over the age of 14 years.http://www.watermill.org.uk/scratch_choir_christmas_classics.html03/05/2011 11:08:18*This Scratch Choir has sold out* Our fantastically popular Scratch Choir is back, offering the opportunity to spend the day with a group of like-minded people learning the songs, and then performing them in the evening in our beautiful tithe barn. Music is provided and there are no auditions. Places are open to anyone over the age of 14 years. Price: £25 per person BOOKING OPENS 1 JUNE To book, please contact Heidi Zimmerman heidi@watermill.org.uk, or phone 01635 570934 “There was a great sense of belonging to something rather special, and I am sure that many people took away some very treasured moments”. Scratch choir 2010 member   http://www.watermill.org.uk/scratch_choir_gilbert_and_sullivan.html03/05/2011 10:45:59If you’re interested in what goes on behind the scenes, then come along to one of our backstage tours where you’ll get to meet the staff, see where the actors rehearse and prepare, and visit the fascinating old and new buildings that make up The Watermill. Prices £28.50 per person for a tour, one course meal with coffee and a ticket for the matinee performance of Some Like It Hotter. £16 per person for a tour of the theatre and one course meal with coffee Booking is open to individuals and groups and you can reserve your space by calling the box office on 01635 46044. Tours for school groups may be arranged on request through The Watermill Outreach department on 01635 570927 or email outreach@watermill.org.ukhttp://www.watermill.org.uk/backstage_tour_some_like_it_hotter.html29/04/2011 13:56:18If you’re interested in what goes on behind the scenes, then come along to one of our backstage tours where you’ll get to meet the staff, see where the actors rehearse and prepare, and visit the fascinating old and new buildings that make up The Watermill. http://www.watermill.org.uk/backstage_tour_great_expectations.html29/04/2011 13:48:46If you’re interested in what goes on behind the scenes, then come along to one of our backstage tours where you’ll get to meet the staff, see where the actors rehearse and prepare, and visit the fascinating old and new buildings that make up The Watermill. http://www.watermill.org.uk/backstage_tour_radio_times_10_sept.html29/04/2011 13:43:04If you’re interested in what goes on behind the scenes, then come along to one of our backstage tours where you’ll get to meet the staff, see where the actors rehearse and prepare, and visit the fascinating old and new buildings that make up The Watermill. http://www.watermill.org.uk/backstage_tour_radio_times_18_aug.html29/04/2011 13:19:31A morning of themed activities linked to Kenneth Grahame’s endearing story. Try your hand at willow weaving, listen to stories in the theatre, join in the drama games, dress up in some of our fabulous costumes from past shows, and track down Toad, Ratty, Mole and Badger to claim your treasure! Tickets: £5 for children –  Adults are free. Tickets must be pre-booked with the box office on 01635 46044 Light snacks will be on sale. http://www.watermill.org.uk/wind_in_the_willows_day.html28/04/2011 14:09:45Ever fancied running away to join the circus? Now you don’t have to! This is your chance to try your hand at juggling, plate-spinning, and a whole host of brilliant circus skills. http://www.watermill.org.uk/circus_skills_workshop.html28/04/2011 14:03:57Introducing the wacky, joyous and fast paced collection of Roald Dahl’s work, this one-man show is sure to delight those who love Dahl – and also those new to his stories!http://www.watermill.org.uk/a_taste_of_dahn.html28/04/2011 13:58:16Magic and laughter combined –guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face and a sense of wonderment!  Ian Keable, winner of the British Magical Champion of Comedy, and Magic Comedy Award from The Magic Circle, is not a traditional childrens’ entertainer.  He performs ‘proper’ magic, convincing enough to fool adults too.  Join Ian for a show where the laughs are as memorable as the magic!http://www.watermill.org.uk/magical_comedian_ian_keable.html28/04/2011 13:51:58Starts at 1.30pm James Forrester takes you on a sensory ride through Elizabethan Englandhttp://www.watermill.org.uk/the_watermill_book_club_james_forrester.html28/04/2011 13:43:40An inspirational woman, Sara Wheeler is one of the finest travel writers and biographers of her generation. Access All Areas is a celebration of her  writing. The frozen poles of the earth feature frequently in her work, whether she is spending the night in Captain Scott’s hut or reliving the adventures of Shackleton and Nansen. Hot destinations – Malawi, Kerala, Cuba and Bangladesh are there too.  Worried that having children would end her roaming, she took them with her, to the Arctic, and on a brilliantly depicted cruise on the QE2. To add to her many talents, she has learnt to bellydance, to strip, and also to walk on the wing of a biplane at 3,000 feet.  She writes brilliantly of her heroes – Mary Kingsley, Fanny Trollope, Norman Lewis, Jan Morris and Sybille Bedford – and about the pains and pleasures of writing biography.  Spanning a career of twenty years, this collection gives an insight into the early journeys and literary heroes that have influenced and inspired this intrepid and talented writer. Tickets: £5 BUY 2 AUTHORS, GET 1 FREE! Book tickets to see two Book Club authors and see a third author for free! This offer applies to the following authors: Sara Wheeler Stella Tillyard (10 June) Michael Simkins (29 June) If you book, for example, two tickets to see Michael Simkins and two for Sara Wheeler, you can claim two free tickets for another of the authors listed.  The offer is subject to availability. To take advantage of this offer please book through the Box Office on 01635 46044. http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_watermill_book_club_sara_wheeler.html28/04/2011 13:33:04At the heart of this sweeping, panoramic novel, set in Regency London and Spain during the Peninsular War, stands the lively, outspoken Harriet, poised on the threshold of the adult world. Her new husband, James, is setting off to join the Duke of Wellington’s troops in Spain. Left in London, she is taken under the wing of Kitty, Lady Wellington. While the women plunge into new worlds of politics, finance and science, the men face the bloody reality of the battlefield, testing their endurance to the hilt. There are betrayals on both sides, and at times it seems their love cannot endure. Their dramatic stories whirl us through the tumult of the Regency at home and abroad.http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_watermill_book_club_stella_tillyard.html28/04/2011 13:28:43*This event has sold out* Following last year's sell out success, Yellowtale Theatre Company return to The Watermill gardens to, once again, romp through some more of the best bits of the Bard.  Familiar delights and re-discovered treasures from the works of Shakespeare. With scenes, speeches and sonnets, it's sure to be an exciting afternoon of some of the greatest work ever written - all performed outside in the beautiful gardens of The Watermill. Bring a rug or something to sit on and enjoy some of your favourite bits and more! "performed with humour, passion, accuracy and sensitivity"  Sussex Express Tickets: £10 and £8 concessions The restaurant is open from 12 noon until 3.30pm for a buffet lunch which should be pre-booked through the box office on 01635 46044.  www.yellowtale.co.uk http://www.watermill.org.uk/shakespeare_in_the_garden_2011.html28/04/2011 12:51:412012 marks two great events in the country’s calendar, the Olympics and the 25th Anniversary of Seasonal Sauce! Yes, Miss Saucebox herself, Helen Watson, celebrates her Silver Jubilee production in January 2012. This special show is guaranteed to fill your heart with joy and laughter. A song, a smile and a single entendre! With some old friends, some new talent, plus a few surprises! In an acting career that spans over 30 years, Helen has worked with some of the best Music Hall and Variety Artistes - Roy Hudd, Barry Cryer, Leslie Crowther, Clive Dunn, Sandy Powell and The Beverley Sisters, to name but a few. She returns with a sterling silver cast of seasoned entertainers. Join the ‘Hostess with the Mostest’ and Company for a tasty mix of song, satire and sauce, with a silver lining. Book early - only 14 performances! The Cast Miss Helen Watson Michelle Bishop Richard Gauntlett Ian Knauer Eric Storm Chris Vincent Tickets Mon, Tues & matinées £13.50 (no other discounts apply) Weds and Thurs £12.50, £17.50 and £19.50 Fri & Sat £14, £22, £25 (no other discounts apply) Meal Deal Wednesday and Thursday night meal deal – two course post-show meal with coffee and a top price ticket for the show only £30! Must be booked through the box office 01635 46044. http://www.watermill.org.uk/seasonal_sauce_25_anniversary_show.html28/04/2011 12:31:39Great movie stars never die, they just sparkle on forever... It’s September 2010, at long last funny man Jack Lemmon and the incomparable Marilyn Monroe are reunited with old friend, Tony Curtis. But how come Tony looks thirty again? Where exactly are they? Who is the stranger on the set? And what the hell is going on? This brand new, fast moving, fantasy comedy whisks the three screen icons back to their most beautiful, sexy and hilarious selves as they are forced once again to don heels and stockings and go backstage during the making of the best loved of all the classic Hollywood comedies. Daring dialogue and razor-sharp wisecracks, sparkling musical numbers and red hot jazz, join us for the most surprising comeback in movie history, starring Monroe, Curtis & Lemmon - dead, uncut and hotter than ever. Now that’s entertainment! Watermill Outreach Touring is supported by The Dr Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundationhttp://www.watermill.org.uk/some_like_it_hotter.html27/04/2011 16:46:45A new high farce loosely based on Aristophanes' Lysistrata Candy Frinton is leader of the Clodly Light Opera And Drama Society (CLODS), she is also the only member - until tonight. Following Candy’s call to arms, a small nucleus of interested new female members, and one man, assemble in Clodly village hall.http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_clodly_light_opera_and_drama_society.html27/04/2011 16:15:16Click here to see interviews with cast members Edward (Pip), Kazia (Miss Havisham) and Stephen (Magwitch) “...an admirable piece of work.” The Oxford Times “...just had to ask you to pass on congrats to all...Fantastic.” “Fantastic use of physical theatre, use of soundscapes, imaginative set, depiction of Dickensian world, many strong, inventive and versatile performers...” A terrifying encounter in a fog-laden churchyard changes orphan Pip’s life forever. Against the dramatic backdrop of the vast, windswept marshes, Pip struggles to come to terms with his mysterious “great expectations.” Haunted by the eccentric Miss Havisham and tormented by his love for the cold-hearted and capricious Estella, Pip’s changed fortunes take him to London to become a gentleman. When his benefactor is revealed, a dramatic chain of events unfolds. http://www.watermill.org.uk/charles_dickens_great_expectations.html27/04/2011 15:42:00 Well known musical actor Gary Wilmot, who will be playing Sammy Shaw, makes his debut at The Watermill in this special summer show.First produced in Birmingham twenty years ago, The Watermill’s new actor musician version of Radio Times will bring an exciting new dimension to the show set in 1941 London. The musical follows the trials of Variety Bandwagon which is about to broadcast live on radio to America for the first time. The show features some well known songs including Run Rabbit Run and There’s Something About a Soldier. http://www.watermill.org.uk/West End star Gary Wilmot to appear in summer musical.html27/04/2011 10:42:05"...the cast sing, dance, act and play to West End standards." Theatre Worldhttp://www.watermill.org.uk/radio_times.html15/04/2011 12:46:44 The Watermill Theatre has been awarded the following amounts from the Arts Council’s National Portfolio Awards 2012-2013       2013-2014       2014-2015 £470,000          £470,000          £470,000 Whilst these figures are less than the theatre applied for it does seem to be a large increase on its 2010/2011 award of £334,784. However this increase in the venue’s core funding now, for the first time, includes money for national touring work. In the past The Watermill’s core funding excluded this and the venue had to apply for funding to tour its work project by project. This new money makes for a more secure future for The Watermill’s touring projects which are enjoyed by audiences across the country. The Arts Council Report on awarding the increase made the following points: The Watermill Theatre, a regularly funded organisation (RFO), is a small but strongly performing, producing theatre. It produces high-quality work within a mixed business economy for significant numbers of people. Their application consolidates their mid-scale touring and there is a strong case for this. The Watermill Theatre is particularly strong in two areas: music theatre and ensemble Shakespeare and the quality of their work is evidenced by the sustained number of national broadsheet reviews, national awards, West End-transfers and a strong demand on the national touring circuit. Talent development is at the heart of how it develops work with many artists’ careers launching at Watermill, such as Edward Hall and John Doyle. The Watermill Theatre audience levels are operating at impressive levels (80% average houses) with 65,000 people attending in 2009/10. Significant further attendances (25,000) are achieved through its touring (Grants for the arts, and National Touring Contracts funded). Outreach activities also widen access through small-scale community touring and a range of multi-artform, life-long learning activities, generating a further 15,000 attendances. A major proportion of the theatre’s outreach programme is directed at children and young people (CYP) centring around its youth theatre provision (reaching 150 CYP per week) and its work in schools. It also includes a programme of holiday activities and performances for children. The team aims to expand activity offsite through partnerships with targeted organisations, which begins to address issues around their isolated rural location. A key part of its produced work is for a family audience (13,000 people), for which it is investigating post-home exploitation. http://www.watermill.org.uk/The Watermill's Arts Council Funding News.html30/03/2011 14:54:27 Richard Briers, has been in the acting business for many years and will talk about his many and varied roles on stage, TV, film and radio. Known by many as happy-go-lucky Tom Good, screen husband to Felicity Kendal in TV’s The Good Life, Richard has proved himself to be a versatile and popular actor. He is generously giving his time to raise money for The Watermill. For more information and to book click here.http://www.watermill.org.uk/actor_richard_briers_to_help_raise_funds_for_the_watermill.html15/03/2011 15:45:15A Watermill fundraising event At 16, Richard Briers was a clerk in High Holborn keen on am dram. He started his career, as he readily confesses, knowing nothing but managed to scrape entry to RADA and from there got his first apprenticeship at the Liverpool Playhouse. In the 1960s, '70s and '80s he became the quintessential situation comedy husband, including playing the role of the happy-go-lucky, self-sufficient Tom Good in the hit series The Good Life. A much-loved actor, Richard’s career has spanned TV, film, radio and theatre and his roles range from King Lear in the Kenneth Branagh production, to the eccentric Hector MacDonald of Glenbogle in TV’s Monarch of the Glen. He has been awarded an OBE and CBE for his services to drama and still enjoys playing for laughs “hearing the laughter, real laughter and affection from an audience... It’s a tonic.” http://www.watermill.org.uk/an_audience_with_richard_briers.html15/03/2011 15:12:21Sheepdrove Organic Farm returns to The Watermill to give another fascinating talk.   Following their successful butchery demonstration in 2009, Juliet Kindersley will talk about the Slow Food Movement.  http://www.watermill.org.uk/slow_food_supper_talk.html04/03/2011 12:45:15"Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." Ratty and his new friend Mole idle away the hours on the river bank little knowing that they, along with wise Mr Badger, are about to embark on a glorious adventure. In pursuit of his latest obsession, the motor car, the incorrigible Mr Toad turns their tranquil life upside down and lands himself in a whole heap of trouble – “poop poop”! An exciting tale unfolds as the friends try to outwit the weasels of the Wild Wood and fight to reclaim Toad Hall for its rightful owner. Enjoy Kenneth Grahame’s enchanting story of friendship and an adventure shared at The Watermill on the banks of the river Lambourn. The perfect setting for a music and fun-filled, Christmas show produced by the same creative team behind last year’s hit, Treasure Island. Tickets £10.50, £15.50 and £18 Suitable for age 4 upwards Please note, no babies or children under 3 will be admitted into the auditorium. Christmas Tea Phew! What an adventure. You must be starving. Time to leave the riverbank and come and feast by the fire. No more weasels and stoats to outwit, just delicious delights for you and a delectable cream tea for the grown-ups. £5.25 each.  Please book your tea when you book your tickets.http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_wind_in_the_willows.html23/02/2011 13:37:01 Esther Freud's debut novel, Hideous Kinky, was turned into a film starring Kate Winslett and was short-listed for the Mail on Sunday/John Llewellyn Rhys Prize.  A trained actress herself, Esther's new novel, Lucky Break, follows a group of young actors as they grapple with haphazard tours, illogical auditions, unobtainable agents, deluxe caravans, rocky relationships and red-carpet premieres. Join her at The Watermill on 11 May.See here for more information and to book http://www.watermill.org.uk/author_esther_freud_comes_to_the_watermill.html15/02/2011 13:15:07Successful author Esther Freud, author of Hideous Kinky and Love Falls comes to The Watermill Theatre with her dazzling new novel Lucky Break. It follows a group of young actors as they grapple with haphazard tours, illogical auditions, unobtainable agents, deluxe caravans, rocky relationships and red-carpet premieres. Their world reveals ruthless ambition, uncertain alliances and the many-sided holy grail of Success. "Lucky Break is full of these pitch-perfect observations, spiced with wry humour. It is also a terrifically absorbing book." The Observer "Freud marinates her tale with wit, warmth and the sense of extended family: the real love at the heart of luvviedom." Financial Times "I loved Lucky Break – being taken away and plunged into that vivid group of actors with all their fun and excitement – and of course their tensions, disappointments and anxiety too. It struck me as completely authentic and enthralling" Michael Holroyd Esther Freud was named as one of the 20 'Best of Young British Novelists', alongside Alan Hollingsworth Hanif Kureishi and Kazuo Ishiguru by Granta magazine.http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_watermill_book_club_esther_freud.html15/02/2011 12:44:14Do you know your wines? Or would you like to know more? In either case, join us for a fun evening of wine tasting with a challenge. You’ll blind taste several wines, along with our panel of Call My Bluff experts, who will try and convince you that they know what the wine is.  But, can you tell who is telling the truth and who is bluffing?  Join us for a highly entertaining evening in the company of our ebullient hosts Andrew Mackenzie, Managing Director of The Vineyard and Donnington Valley Hotel, and wine enthusiasts David Bailey and actor Nick Lumley. There will be a prize for the table with the most correct answers. http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_watermills_call_my_bluff_wine_tasting.html11/02/2011 13:17:36 We're delighted to announce that Deborah Cavendish,The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire will join us for a special fundraising event on 8 April. She will talk about her fascinating life as a young socialite, the youngest of the six Mitford sisters, and her life at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_dowager_duchess_of_devonshire_to_talk_at_the watermill.html06/01/2011 12:37:41A Watermill Fundraising Event The Watermill Theatre is delighted to welcome The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire to host ‘An Audience With..’  The Duchess is the youngest and only surviving of six Mitford sisters whose antics were never off the society pages in the 1930s and 1940s - and not always for the right reasons. Fondly known as Debo, the Duchess will share her extraordinary life story. Born into an aristocratic family in 1920, the Duchess followed a more conventional path than her five siblings, marrying Andrew Cavendish - later to become the 11th Duke of Devonshire - in 1941. Her husband - a nephew of Prime Minister Harold Macmillan - inherited the seat in 1950 and for more than 50 years the couple were to run one of the most successful country estates - Chatsworth House in Derbyshire.   The Duchess wrote several books about Chatsworth and played a key role in the restoration of the house, the enhancement of the garden and the development of commercial activities such as the Chatsworth Farm Shop. She became the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire in 2004 when her son inherited the dukedom upon the death of her husband.http://www.watermill.org.uk/an_audience_with_the_dowager_duchess_of_devonshire.html06/01/2011 12:09:59 On Tuesday 8 March at 1.30pm we will be joined by the highly-acclaimed bestselling author Joanna Trollope. Her enormously successful contemporary works of fiction, several of which have been televised, include The Choir, A Village Affair, A Passionate Man and The Rector's Wife which was her first number one bestseller, and made her into a household name. Since then she has published eleven other novels including most recently The Other Family.http://www.watermill.org.uk/Joanna_Trollope_guest_author_at_The_Watermill_Book_Club.html17/11/2010 11:08:24 We require a highly motivated person with exceptional interpersonal skills to join the small Development Department.  The Development Officer must demonstrate excellent written skills and be able to engage with a wide range of individuals at all levels.  The role requires experience in fundraising and an understanding of the Charity and/or cultural sector. For more information and an application pack click here. http://www.watermill.org.uk/new_development_officer_required.html09/11/2010 11:19:51We are delighted to be hosting a Watermill Book Club event with the highly-acclaimed bestselling author Joanna Trollope.  Her enormously successful contemporary works of fiction, several of which have been televised, include The Choir, A Village Affair, A Passionate Man and The Rector's Wife which was her first number one bestseller, and made her into a household name. Since then she has published eleven other novels including most recently The Other Family. Her latest novel, Daughters in Law, is a lovely, candid and hugely perceptive exploration of what happens inside every family when one generation, with its ways and habits, has to make way for the next — and everyone needs to learn what family love means all over again. Tickets: £6 http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_watermill_book_club_joanna_trollope.html04/11/2010 10:49:56Enjoy a three course meal in our tithe barn restaurant before taking a stroll around our beautiful grounds. For those who enjoy something a little more energetic, build up your appetite before lunch walking in the surrounding countryside. A lovely way to spend Mother’s Day. Three course meal £25 Children £12   Click here to see the menu For more information contact the restaurant on 01635 570920 or restaurant@watermill.org.ukhttp://www.watermill.org.uk/mother's_day_lunch_2011.html29/10/2010 16:24:28Our Ladies Lunches are special social and fundraising events and include a unique talk about the activities behind the scenes at The Watermill, shedding light on the creative process, the team and the running of the theatre. This is followed by a light lunch with a glass of wine and a matinee performance with interval coffee. These exclusive events are held in the Lily Pond Courtyard.http://www.watermill.org.uk/ladies_and_gentlemen's_lunch.html29/10/2010 15:13:43Comedy, magic and singing are Mrs Bubbles specialities. She’ll make you giggle with her silly tricks and sometimes you’ll be left wondering 'how did she do that?' Lots of audience participation too so come along and join in the fun. Suitable for age 4 upwards. Tickets: £5 http://www.watermill.org.uk/mrs_bubbles_goes_shopping.html29/10/2010 14:23:31A fun-filled morning of activities including drama games, mask painting and dressing up.  Suitable for age 4 upwards. Tickets: £4 for children – must be pre-booked through the box office on 01635 46044.http://www.watermill.org.uk/family_fun_day.html29/10/2010 14:19:02The Quarter Too Ensemble presents Goldilocks and the Three Bears An adventure into the woods with the inter-galactic super-hero storytellers Chicken-Head and Cow-Face! Put your tongue firmly in your cheek as they use their powers to tell, in their own unique way, the classic story of Goldilocks and The Three Bears. http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_quarter_too_ensemble.html29/10/2010 14:08:01If you’re interested in what goes on behind the scenes, then come along to one of our backstage tours where you’ll get to meet the staff, see where the actors rehearse and prepare and visit the old and new buildings that make up The Watermill. Prices: £16 per person for a tour of the theatre and one course meal with coffee. £40 per person for a tour, one course meal with coffee and a ticket for that day’s matinee performance. Booking is open to individuals and groups. Please call the box office on 01635 46044. Tours for school groups may be arranged on request through The Watermill Outreach department on 01635 570927 or email outreach@watermill.org.uk http://www.watermill.org.uk/backstage_tour_the_marriage_of_figaro.html29/10/2010 14:01:01If you’re interested in what goes on behind the scenes, then come along to one of our backstage tours where you’ll get to meet the staff, see where the actors rehearse and prepare and visit the old and new buildings that make up The Watermill. http://www.watermill.org.uk/backstage_tour_bloodshot.html29/10/2010 13:49:41Box Theatre Company presents THE ISLAND OF SLAVES By Pierre Marivaux Translated by Neil Bartlett Directed by Duncan Mack Four people, the survivors of a wreck, land on a beach. Two masters, two servants; for them life is about to be turned upside down. In this comedy, Marivaux uses game and role-playing, to ask some uncomfortable questions, as relevant today as when it was written. If you were suddenly in charge, how would you treat your former employer, and what kind of boss would you be? Newbury Dramatic Society presents THE DOG IT WAS THAT DIED By Tom Stoppard Directed by Ann Davidson Designed by Simon Pike Who is the master? Rashnilov or Gell? Was it a ballet dancer or a belly dancer who was invited to Buckingham Palace? Am I double agent or a triple agent? When does the bizarre become the norm? What was the truth in the letter? The answer to these and other mysteries lies in this witty, clever farce by the Master, Stoppard. Prepare to use your imagination! Tickets £10 and £8 concessions http://www.watermill.org.uk/who_is_the_master?.html29/10/2010 13:40:59*THIS COURSE HAS SOLD OUT.* If you would like your details added to our course mailing list please email outreach@watermill.org.ukhttp://www.watermill.org.uk/adult_acting_course.html29/10/2010 12:51:19A Watermill Fundraising Event Alan Titchmarsh was born and brought up on the edge of Ilkley Moor.  He left school at fifteen and became an apprentice gardener in the local nursery, followed by full-time training at horticultural college and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.  Alan has presented programmes such as Gardeners’ World, Ground Force and How to be a Gardener, BBC Radio 2’s Melodies for You, and his own daytime ITV television show. He has written three volumes of memoirs, over forty gardening books and  seven novels and he contributes regularly to BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, The Daily Express and Sunday Express.  Alan was appointed MBE in 2000, a Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire in 2001, when he was also immortalised by Madame Tussaud’s, and in 2004 received the Victoria Medal of Honour, the highest accolade in the British gardening world.  In 2009 he was made a Vice President of the Royal Horticultural Society and was High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight from April 2008 until April 2009. He lives there and in Hampshire with his wife and family.http://www.watermill.org.uk/an_audience_with_alan_titchmarsh.html29/10/2010 12:29:57(aka David Archer in The Archers) An Earl Entertainshttp://www.watermill.org.uk/love_your_chocolates_an_evening_with_tim_bentinck.html29/10/2010 12:18:55In 1949 as a student at Oxford University, Robert Hardy acted in a short 1940’s film noir movie, Black Legend, directed by fellow student John Schlesinger, who went on to become an Oscar-winning director. The film tells a tale of forbidden love, exposed passion and a multiple murder, inspired by the story behind Combe Gibbet on the Berkshire Hampshire border. This is a unique opportunity to listen to a great actor and see the early work of the Hollywood legend who went on to direct such classic films as Billy Liar, Darling, Far From The Madding Crowd, Midnight Cowboy, Sunday Bloody Sunday and Marathon Man. Robert Hardy CBE is one of Britain’s leading actors with a career that has spanned everything from the classics with Laurence Olivier and the Royal Shakespeare Company to his hugely popular television roles in The Troubleshooters and All Creatures Great and Small. More recently he has appeared as the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, in the Harry Potter films. He has the distinction of having played both Churchill and Roosevelt.  Jon Snow is an experienced journalist and presenter and currently presents the award-winning, flagship news programme, Channel 4 News. Tickets  £20 and £17.50 http://www.watermill.org.uk/robert_hardy_and_jon_snow_plus_john_schlesinger's_film_black_legend.html29/10/2010 12:09:22As a young man, Faustus makes a pact with the devil to sell his soul after death, in exchange for wealth and power in life. He travels the world in triumph. But as the clock keeps ticking, he starts to wonder how long he has left ...http://www.watermill.org.uk/dr_faustus.html28/10/2010 22:00:57“The Watermill's The Marriage of Figaro... is an absolute joy.” The British Theatre Guide  “a perfect play for a summer’s evening at the beautiful Watermill Theatre” The Stage “The Watermill’s rollicking new production” The Oxford Times “Kate Saxon’s fast-paced production builds up to a magnificent and hilarious final act climax in the garden (weather permitting). A great way to spend a summer evening.” Newbury Theatre The lustful Count is determined to “reward” his lovely servant Suzanne for her loyal service on  her wedding night, as is the custom practised by French nobility. His desire appears to have pushed from his mind his pledge to the Countess to abolish this droit de seigneur. However, he fails to appreciate the determination of the groom-to-be, his crafty, quick-witted valet, Figaro, hell-bent on defending his bride’s honour. The self-styled genius of intrigue weaves a plot causing chaos amongst the lower and upper orders and culminating in a delightfully farcical evening of mistaken identities.  http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_marriage_of_figaro.html28/10/2010 21:45:52The West Berkshire Federation of Village Schools collaborates again in this evocative tale of Newbury families during the First World War.  Based partly on local events, the story follows two photographers and their families during the conflict, one of working class background, the other gentry. The sons and daughters of each household fall in love as the war overtakes all their fortunes. Packed with local colour, humour, poetry, song, the sights and sounds of our old market town and the horrors and absurdity of the war itself, over a hundred and twenty primary school children will perform this epic and moving local story. http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_green_of_the_spring.html28/10/2010 21:26:56"...fast, sharp and funny..." ****The Daily Telegraph "... a sheer joy. It's years since I've laughed out loud so much at a play." The British Theatre Guide "Farcical fun, a must see show" The Public Reviews "Director Mark Rosenblatt and his cast deliver the goods with spades in this slick, welcome revival. **** Whatsonstage “You’ll come out of the theatre smiling and absolutely shattered by the wisecracking energy crackling about the stage from the four superb actors. Margaret Mitchell must be giggling in her grave.” Newbury Weekly News And from audience members... "Laugh-out-loud comedy, brilliantly staged..." "Brilliant from beginning to end...Wow!" "Hilarious, each actor deserves an Oscar." "Excellent acting. Staggering."http://www.watermill.org.uk/moonlight_and_magnolias.html28/10/2010 21:19:51*PLEASE CALL ON THE DAY FOR TICKET RETURNS 01635 46044*http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_comedy_of_errors.html28/10/2010 16:46:12Derek is a skilled photographer, very down on his luck. A mysterious envelope drops through the letter box – a stranger asking him to take pictures of an elegant young woman as she walks through leafy Holland Park. The catch is she must not know she is being photographed... The reward is handsome.http://www.watermill.org.uk/bloodshot.html28/10/2010 16:31:50London, 1948. Sophie has a photographic memory. Together with a brilliant young academic, she is asked to go undercover to help find a crucial missing document, but they soon find themselves in deadly danger. Who else is searching for the document? Will Sophie's desperate husband ever find her? And who is the mysterious man watching them from the shadows? Join the Senior Youth Theatre on a thrilling adventure ride across post-war Europe.http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_watermill_senior_youth_theatre_the_girl_who_never_forgot.html28/10/2010 16:16:27“This was a hugely entertaining play performed by an accomplished cast and thoroughly enjoyed by the enthusiastic audience. Highly recommended.” The British Theatre Guide “This is just the show to brighten a dreary winter’s evening.” The Oxford Times “The situation comedy and the cast’s timing were impeccable” The Public Reviews “The intimate atmosphere of the Watermill is a perfect setting for Ayckbourn’s cleverly constructed comedy about mistaken identity and infidelity.” The Stagehttp://www.watermill.org.uk/relatively_speaking.html28/10/2010 16:07:16JO BRAND – CAN’T STAND UP FOR SITTING DOWN Interviewed by Pat Harper Following her sell-out first visit to The Watermill, Jo Brand returns for a second helping, this time with her autobiography, Can’t Stand up for Sitting Down.   If you were one of the lucky ones who enjoyed her warm and sometimes down-right earthy sense of humour at her last event you will be first in the queue to get tickets.http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_watermill_book_club_jo_brand.html15/10/2010 09:42:52 Barbara Taylor Bradford, Jo Brand and Gervase Phinn October Watermill Book Club authors We’re delighted to welcome three hugely popular and very different authors to The Watermill Book Club.http://www.watermill.org.uk/best_selling_authors_at_the_watermill.html02/09/2010 17:16:12THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY 2 NOVEMBER If you have tickets booked for this event and would like to transfer your seats or arrange a refund, please contact the box office on 01635 46044 or email boxoffice@watermillorg.uk.  If the lines are busy please leave a message and  you will be called back. http://www.watermill.org.uk/watermill_book_club_jo_brand.html01/09/2010 17:14:20Need a pick-me-up? Would you like to be amused? An afternoon in the company of witty and often downright funny Gervase Phinn reading from and talking about his latest Out of the Woods But Not Over the Hill book will make you look at life and laugh aloud.http://www.watermill.org.uk/watermill_book_club_gervase_phinn.html01/09/2010 17:05:24The Watermill is delighted to be hosting one of very few UK events with the celebrated author Barbara Taylor Bradford.  Her novel A Woman of Substance became one of the most successful mini-series of all time.  Now 26 books and 82 million copies later she shows she is still at the top of the game with her latest book Playing the Game.  http://www.watermill.org.uk/watermill_book_club_barbara_taylor_bradford.html01/09/2010 16:56:42We wish to thank all of you who have so generously donated to the Disasters Emergency Committee Pakistan Floods Appeal. In just 4 days we managed to raise a huge £2890. The money you have raised will help provide vital emergency aid to the many devasted communities affected by this, so thank you! http://www.watermill.org.uk/A_massive_thank_you!.html13/08/2010 11:02:12 Wanna buy an island? Missed out on the great Greek Island sale?  For a mere £500 you can sponsor your very own island in balmy Bagnor during the run of Treasure Island. A stunning, sandy oasis complete with the river Lambourn lapping the shores, flashing LED green palm tree, X marking the spot and your company’s name on view to thousands during the run.  And when the Hispaniola has sailed you can take your palm tree home with you in the knowledge that it cost you just half the RRP.http://www.watermill.org.uk/sponsor_an_island_in_bagnor_!.html04/08/2010 14:33:47 The Waterminis, our drama group for under 5s, celebrates the end of their first year today with a special outdoor picnic. Since September, the toddlers and their mums, dads, and grandparents have been coming along to weekly sessions of songs, games, and movement, before getting together for a sociable chat over tea, biscuits and juice.http://www.watermill.org.uk/happy_first_birthday_waterminis.html07/07/2010 14:31:29Two of six thirty minute musicals by members of Mercury Musical Development with a distinctly English focus. After Lydia by Christine Denniston and Gwyneth Herbert A poignant love story about a man coming to terms with impending loss and a woman preparing for the end. Trying to protect one another from the, truth they discover, before it’s too late, the depth of their love.http://www.watermill.org.uk/sounds_of_england_free_tickets.html06/07/2010 16:44:58 Are you local to The Watermill and not sure what to do with your old batteries? Don't put them in your dustbin and so into landfill, bring them to the theatre where there’s a collection point in the foyer. It’s estimated that up to 20,000 tonnes of primary and secondary batteries are land-filled in the UK every year. The average household uses approx 20-30 batteries per year and it’s increasing. To find out more about the recycling scheme go to www.accumulatorrecycling.co.ukhttp://www.watermill.org.uk/battery_recycling_centre_at_the_watermill.html This year The Watermill Theatre’s Annual Summer Fair was blessed in terms of weather and visitors.  The rain clouds kept at bay and well over 800 people flocked to what many describe as the best family day out in the area.  The Aldbrickham band with Marianne Segal created a folk-filled atmosphere where people danced, bought plants, books, bric a brac, cakes and tried to win a coconut or one of the wonderful prizes on the hoopla and the tombola.  The duck race was, as ever, very popular as was the face painting. The Quarter Too Ensemble presented a hilarious 3 man version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Ice creams and Pimms sold in impressive quantities as did the hog roast and salads created by supporters of the theatre. The theatre also received generous support from many local businesses and organisations who kindly donated prizes to the grand draw, making a substantial contribution to the financial success of the afternoon.’http://www.watermill.org.uk/another_successful_watermill_summer_fair.html National Awards for Stage Management Shortlist Announced The Watermill's stage management team have been shortlisted for this year's Team of the Year award for the 2009-2010 Watermill season. http://www.watermill.org.uk/stage_management_team_shortlisted_for_national_award.htmlIf you like Nigel Slater then you will adore Sarah Raven. Award-winning cook, gardener, florist, broadcaster and writer Sarah makes regular appearances on Gardeners’ World, when she is not working on her own farm at Perch Hill or at home at Sissinghurst Castle. She is the author of the award-winning The Cutting Garden, Sarah Raven's Garden Cookbook and Sarah Raven's Complete Christmas.http://www.watermill.org.uk/watermill_book_club_sarah_raven_2010.htmlWith Ronnie Thompson, Rob Ryan and Barbara Nadel This is a Book Club event with a difference.  You’ve read crime novels and thrillers and probably wondered how true to life they were – well this is your chance to find out.  We have brought together three writers who have worked in the world of crime.  They will talk about the glitz and grit of the real life crime world – from cops and robbers, to the truth about life behind bars to the real life story of one the biggest heists in history.  The panellists are: Ronnie Thompson, former prison officer and author of the memoir Screwed and true crime novel Banged Up. Rob Ryan, Sunday Times journalist and author of a non-fiction book on The Great Train Robbery. Barbara Nadel, award-winning author of  a series of novels featuring Turkish detective Çetin İkmen, and a second crime series set in East London during The Blitz featuring undertaker, Francis Hancock.http://www.watermill.org.uk/watermill_book_club_true_crime_panel.htmlIf you’re interested in what goes on behind the scenes, then come along to one of our backstage tours where you’ll get to meet the staff, see where the actors rehearse and prepare and visit the old and new buildings that make up The Watermill.http://www.watermill.org.uk/backstage_tour.htmlIf you’re interested in what goes on behind the scenes, then come along to one of our backstage tours where you’ll get to meet the staff, see where the actors rehearse and prepare and visit the old and new buildings that make up The Watermill.http://www.watermill.org.uk/backstage_tour.htmlEver wanted to have a go at singing Les Miserables or Phantom? This is a unique opportunity to sing songs from the greatest musicals ever written.  Spend the daytime with a group of like-minded people learning the songs, and then perform them in the evening in our beautiful tithe barn. Music is provided and there are no auditions. Places are open to anyone over the age of 14yrs.http://www.watermill.org.uk/scratch_choir.htmlAs a special package with Copacabana tickets, we are offering the chance to learn to dance the Latin American way for this musical extravaganza. Come along and release your inner cha-cha-cha. We can’t guarantee that you’ll be swinging your way into the next season of So You Think You Can Dance, but we can guarantee lots of laughs. Suitable for 16 upwards.http://www.watermill.org.uk/copacabana_salsa_classes.htmlJoin us on the lawn at The Watermill as Yellowtale Theatre Company lead a joyous romp through the best bits of the Bard.  Familiar delights and re-discovered treasures from the works of Shakespeare and friends (or rivals?)http://www.watermill.org.uk/shakespeare_in_the_garden.html*THIS EVENT HAS SOLD OUT* Father Christmas had such a lovely time when he visited The Watermill last year that he’s asked to come and see us all again. After a ride on his horse-drawn sleigh, children enjoy table-top activities, share their Christmas letters and lists with Father Christmas beneath the Christmas tree and receive a small gift.http://www.watermill.org.uk/father_christmas_at_the_watermill_2010.html*THIS EVENT IS FULLY BOOKED* To celebrate our swashbuckling Christmas show this year, Treasure Island, we are holding a special pirate day during half term. Hunt the treasure in our beautiful gardens, listen to tales of pirate adventures in the theatre and exchange your eye-patch, pirate hat and cutlass for one of the costumes from our wardrobe department in costume play time.  All this and themed table-top activities too. Come and join in the fun!http://www.watermill.org.uk/pirate_day.htmlA little drop of this and a sprinkling of that and a feast of fun for the over 5’s is on the menu. Children love to rhyme and play with words and sounds, so bring them along to be enchanted by a pinch of traditional poems and a glug of nonsense ones too – giggles guaranteed! They can throw some of their own ingredients into our poetry pot and we’ll see what comes out when we’ve stirred it up a bit. So tuck in and celebrate National Poetry Day with us. Bet you won’t be able to resist a nibble too. Yum yum! Tempted? Tickets just £5 PS For all those who love to dress up (children and adults too if you like!) come dressed as a character from your favourite story or poem. Book online or call the box office on 01635 46044http://www.watermill.org.uk/poetry_soup.htmlWarm up your funny bones for the world’s only stand-up comedian for children. Think there is no such thing?  Think again.  James’ unique style covers everything from parents to Playstations; why we have hair and what he had for breakfast.  http://www.watermill.org.uk/james_campbells_comedy_4_kids.htmlOur play reading sessions are a bit like a book club.  They’re an opportunity to meet with like-minded people for a friendly, relaxed evening.  Together we’ll read aloud and discuss sections of some of the most beautiful poetry ever written. You don’t need to read the sonnets in advance, just come along and read them with us. http://www.watermill.org.uk/play_reading_for_adults_shakespeare's_sonnets.htmlOur play reading sessions are a bit like a book club. They’re an opportunity to meet with like-minded people in a friendly, relaxed get-together. We’ll read and discuss sections of much loved works. You don’t need to read the texts in advance just come along and read them with us.http://www.watermill.org.uk/play_reading_for_adults_habeas_corpus_by_alan_bennett.htmlEspionage, interrogation and double-lives in these two award-winning plays. With his customary wit and observation Alan Bennett delves into the world of espionage, forgery and double-lives.http://www.watermill.org.uk/single_spies.html Winner of 2010 TMA award for Best Musical  Kirsty Hoiles (young Viv) TMA award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.http://www.watermill.org.uk/spend_spend_spend_!.html New York City, showbiz capital of the world. Lo La Mar, small-town girl with big dreams of stardom trails from one steamy nightclub to another looking for her big break. Enter budding song writer, Tony Star, with dreams of his own. Smitten by the lovely Lola, he arranges an audition at the Copacabana and launches her career as a Copa girl. But the path of true love never did run smoothly and the Lola is whisked away by the villainous Rico to perform in his club, the Tropicana, in Havana. Aided by the sensational Cuban star Conchita Alvarez, Tony stages a dramatic rescue... Steamy, sexy, dazzling and daring, enter the world of the Copacabana and its pulsating rhythms where music and passion are always in fashion!http://www.watermill.org.uk/barry_manilows-copacabana.htmlThis striking adaptation of Gulliver’s extraordinary journey is true to the spirit of Jonathan Swift’s original stunning, fantastical adult satire. It not only leaps 300 years of progress like a tiny Lilliputian sea, it strikes a deep chord of human truth, laughter and empathy over the centuries.http://www.watermill.org.uk/gullivers_travels_at_east_garston.htmlTracy Chevalier achieved international success with her book Girl with a Pearl Earring which was subsequently made into a film starring Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. Her latest novel, Remarkable Creatures, set in the early 19th century, tells how one woman's gift transcends class and gender to lead to some of the most important discoveries of the century. Above all, it is a revealing portrait of the intricate and resilient nature of female friendship.http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_watermill_book_club_tracy_chevalier.html THE FINAL CHOICES ARE MADE FOR THE WATERMILL’S NEW WRITING COMPETITION RAISING VOICESThe final selection for The Watermill’s new writing competition Raising Voices has been made. A team of readers headed by Ade Morris, The Watermill Outreach Director, read the 47 entries, http://www.watermill.org.uk/new_writing_competition_winners_announced.html*ACCESS TO THE WATERMILL* All main roads to the theatre are clear. People are able to get to the theatre so see the show but please drive with great care and slowly through the village of Bagnor. Please check external agency websites for updates on main road conditions in the Newbury area and weather updates.http://www.watermill.org.uk/treasure_island.html “We started together on this terrace and we'll finish together under the poplar trees.”http://www.watermill.org.uk/heroes.htmlAt the end of William Fiennes’ bestselling and award-winning debut, The Snow Geese, Fiennes returns from a long journey and leaves the reader as he walks up the drive to his family home, Broughton Castle. Here, in The Music Room, he leads us in to the heart of that home. Bursting with tender detail and combining quiet humour, tactful pathos and wisdom, The Music Room is a sensuous and deeply moving tribute to place, memory and the permanence of love. Join William as he discusses the book and talks about his childhood growing up in awe of his epileptic brother, Richard. He is the recipient of the Somerset Maugham Award and was the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year. Tickets £5 Lunch A buffet lunch is available in our restaurant from 12 noon. Please make your restaurant reservation when you book your tickets. http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_watermill_book_club_william_fiennes.htmlIf you’re interested in what goes on behind the scenes, then come along to one of our backstage tours where you’ll get to meet the staff, see where the actors rehearse and prepare and visit the old and new buildings that make up The Watermill. Prices: £15 per person for a tour of the theatre and one course meal with coffee. £25 per person for a tour, one course meal with coffee and a ticket for the matinee performance of Daisy Pulls It Off. Booking is open to individuals and groups. Please call the box office on 01635 46044. Tours for school groups may be arranged on request through The Watermill Outreach department on 01635 570927 or email outreach@watermill.org.uk http://www.watermill.org.uk/backstage_tour_2606.htmlIf you’re interested in what goes on behind the scenes, then come along to one of our backstage tours where you’ll get to meet the staff, see where the actors rehearse and prepare and visit the old and new buildings that make up The Watermill. Prices: £15 per person for a tour of the theatre and one course meal with coffee. £25 per person for a tour, one course meal with coffee and a ticket for the matinee performance of  Brontë . Booking is open to individuals and groups. Please call the box office on 01635 46044. Tours for school groups may be arranged on request through The Watermill Outreach department on 01635 570927 or email outreach@watermill.org.uk http://www.watermill.org.uk/backstage_tour_2904.htmlIf you’re interested in what goes on behind the scenes, then come along to one of our backstage tours where you’ll get to meet the staff, see where the actors rehearse and prepare and visit the old and new buildings that make up The Watermill. Prices £15 per person for a tour of the theatre and one course meal with coffee. £25 per person for a tour, one course meal with coffee and a ticket for the matinee performance of Heroes. Booking is open to individuals and groups. Please call the box office on 01635 46044. Tours for school groups may be arranged on request through The Watermill Outreach department on 01635 570927 or email outreach@watermill.org.uk http://www.watermill.org.uk/backstage_tour_0403.htmlROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD by Tom Stoppard, the translator of Heroes This new addition to our programme offers you the chance to meet with like-minded people in a friendly, relaxed get-together, reading and discussing sections of much loved plays. You don’t have to have read the play in advance, just come along and discover it with us. Tickets: £5 each Other Play Readings Monday 19 April Jane Eyre by Polly Teale, author of the play Brontë http://www.watermill.org.uk/play_reading_for_adults.htmlDue to popular demand, our acting and play writing skills workshops are back for another season. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain an insight and expand your knowledge of what it takes to work in theatre. The cost per person is £12 and includes a glass of wine or soft drink on arrival. http://www.watermill.org.uk/workshop_for_adults_play_writing.htmlLeading storyteller, Mary Medlicott will be telling the tales of Shemi Wad, local legend and master of mischief and famously far-fetched tales. His incredible stories of heroic exploits involved giant crabs, right-angled rifles, and human cannonballs. Shemi never fails to amuse his listeners. Storytelling is the oldest art form in the world. Many, many years ago, when the only form of communication was by word of mouth, stories were the sole means of education and spreading news. Stories are not learned by rote or read from books but retold by the tellers, making each interpretation unique. Now with this retelling, a new generation can enjoy Shemi's exploits. Come and enjoy these highly entertaining and fanciful tales of Pembrokeshire’s most famous fibber. Tickets: £5 Suitable for age 5 upwards The performance lasts for 60 minuteshttp://www.watermill.org.uk/shemis_tall_tales_told_by_mary_medlicott.htmlDue to popular demand, our acting and play writing skills workshops are back for another season. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain an insight and expand your knowledge of what it takes to work in theatre. The cost per person is £12 and includes a glass of wine or soft drink on arrival. Wednesday 19 May Play writing workshop http://www.watermill.org.uk/workshop_for_adults_acting_skills.html"... an evening of theatrical bliss." The Oxford Times "...a robust, energetic and delightful show that kept the audience on the edge of their seats for two hours." Theatreworld “It’s a top-hole evening ... as Trixie would say – Jubilate!” Wiltshire Gazette & Herald “…this 80s favourite comes up fresh and funny.”  Reviewsgate It's 1927 and Daisy Meredith is the first scholarship girl taken from an elementary school to be allowed access to the hallowed halls of Grangewood School for Young Ladies. Enthusiastic and plucky to the last, Daisy finds herself struggling against unspeakable snobs Sybil and Monica and their ghastly schemes to get her expelled. Ably assisted by her new best friend, madcap and self styled poet, Trixie Martin, Daisy finds herself caught up in a series of irresistible adventures including the search for missing treasure. Can they work out the mysterious clues and save the school from closure? Or will they be beaten by the enigmatic Mr Scoblowski? This riotous and affectionate pastiche of the classic girls' school story was a huge West End hit and won the Olivier Award and Drama Theatre Award for Best Comedy. Full of hilarious characters and splendid scrapes Daisy Pulls it Off celebrates, with a sly wit and a big heart, an arguably sweeter, more innocent era. http://www.watermill.org.uk/daisy_pulls_it_off.htmlThis striking adaptation of Gulliver’s extraordinary journey is true to the spirit of Jonathan Swift’s original stunning, fantastical adult satire. It not only leaps 300 years of progress like a tiny Lilliputian sea, it strikes a deep chord of human truth, laughter and empathy over the centuries.http://www.watermill.org.uk/gullivers_travels2.html"...a wonderful, brooding and densely layered examination of the nature of female creativity." Lyn Gardner - The Guardian "The Watermill’s creative juices flow alongside and within the devised and experimental style of Shared Experience, producing a perfect contrast between simple reality and the heady fantasies of the Bronte sisters’ writings."  The Stage Constrained by their background and their sex, three girls grow up in an isolated parsonage on the Yorkshire moors with an overbearing father and a brother unable to cope with the weight of his family’s expectations. Against this backdrop, the Brontë sisters write novels and create powerful and passionate characters that have ensured their place in our literary history. Heathcliffe, Cathy Earnshaw, Arthur Huntingdon and the first Mrs Rochester come to life as the sisters’ story unfolds. Brontë is a fascinating glimpse into the life, mind and works of this extraordinary family. An exciting opportunity for you to see a production that was a sell-out success when it toured in 2005, presented by two renowned, award-winning producers of theatre, The Watermill and Shared Experience. Brontë is directed by Nancy Meckler and written by co-Artistic Director of Shared Experience, Polly Teale, whose previous plays for the company include the highly-acclaimed Jane Eyre and After Mrs Rochester which both transferred to the West End. Tickets: £13 to £24 First Week Special On the first Thursday and Friday all seats £13 (no other discounts apply)http://www.watermill.org.uk/bronte.htmlNo sooner does the spirited D’Artagnan arrive in Paris to fulfil his dream of becoming a Musketeer of the Guard, than he finds himself embroiled in a dangerous battle of wits between the villainous Cardinal and the wayward Queen of France. Impressed by his courage and honour, the famously gallant three musketeers adopt him into their circle and so begins a series of sensational, swashbuckling adventures. The Senior Youth Theatre presents this heroic story of inseparable friends on their quest for honour and justice to save the beautiful damsel in distress. Full of action, romance and comedy, this classic tale celebrates the spirit of friendship and their voracious lust for life. Supported by: The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust Tickets  £10.50     Concessions £6.50http://www.watermill.org.uk/the_three-musketeers.htmlMove over Miller, Shakespeare, Coward and Shaw! The final selection for The Watermill’s new writing competition has been made. A team of readers headed by Ade Morris, The Watermill Outreach Director, read the 47 entries: "This is the third time that The Watermill has hosted the Raising Voices festival for new writers in theatre, and the standard of plays submitted has been higher than ever. From such a wealth of storytelling, moving, funny, tragic and timely, finding just a handful to read to the public has been tricky - however we do have four clear winners, two longer and two short plays, which we think The Watermill audiences will enjoy; each is very different and reflects a different theatrical style." The plays will be performed as a rehearsed reading by professional actors. Monday 29th March ONE PLUS INFINITY by Jimmy Brown Directed by Eve Leigh Dyslexic young singer Isla is in crisis, in her life and relationship, following her diagnosis with melanoma. At the Rosemberg Clinic she meets a fellow sufferer, Jack. Jack also has Asperger's syndrome and is a brilliant student at Cambridge. As time flicks backwards we discover a touching, funny and life affirming love story with great resonance. Tuesday 30th March THE ROAD TO PORT OF BARRY by Christopher J Orton and Robert Gould Directed by Jamie Harper Described by one of our readers as 'Gavin and Stacey with a gun' this Pinteresque farce set in a caravan is a shot of comedy and metaphysical whisky. Tuesday 30th March PLANTING DAVID by Laura Ellen Major Directed by Jamie Harper A village hall drama in a teacup in which small talk and flower beds hold a deadly secret. When Cheryl turns up to help her fellow ladies with a bit of strategic weeding in the village hall flower bed she brings with her a shocking revelation. Wednesday 31st March NEARER TO SHAKESPEARE by Jane Brough Directed by Derek Bond When Conrad Milner, the local randy bachelor, decides to settle down, he sparks a series of revelations and recollections spanning the last twenty-odd years. A drama of great breadth charting the lives and loves of a group of professional friends, their history and their hopes. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to experience new theatre on The Watermill stage. You could be among the first to discover a new Tom Stoppard, Caryl Churchill or Simon Stevens. Tickets £8 Concessions £5 BOOK ALL THREE EVENINGS - 4 PLAYS - FOR JUST  £18! Plays are suitable for age 14 upwards. Plays contain strong language http://www.watermill.org.uk/raising_voices_2010.html“It’s hard not to get caught up in her passion...snappy dialogue, tight plotting and realistic situations make Paretsky’s unapologetically politicised thrillers a pleasure to read, whatever your viewpoint.”  Daily Mail Multi-award winning American crime writer Sara Paretsky has fifteen books to her credit. She is best known for revolutionising the crime world with her female detective character V I Warshawski. Her many awards include the Cartier Diamond Dagger award for lifetime achievement from the British Crime Writers’ Association. Sara will be talking about her new novel, Hardball and how she manages to write with such unbeatable pace and a passion for justice. Tickets: £5 Lunch A buffet lunch is available in our restaurant from 12 noon. Please make your restaurant reservation when you book your tickets. http://www.watermill.org.uk/watermill_book_club_hard_ball.html18/12/2009 10:11:59 An evening of two one act plays by two local amateur companies: The Box Theatre Company and Newbury Dramatic Society. Sganarelle presented by Box Theatre Company A father wants what's best for his daughter but a daughter's will is one to be reckoned with. The mistrust that breeds within old love and the innocence of young love combine to create the opportunity for high jinx. In Moliere's play Sganarelle, misdirection and confusion provides fast and hilarious entertainment for all. Confusions presented by Newbury Dramatic Society In Alan Ayckbourn's play, the humour is based on a riotous summer fete, at which secrets come out at surprising times and a tea urn has a life of its own! In the second part, five singletons reflect on how and why their lives are not as cracked up as they are meant to be!http://www.watermill.org.uk/confused_love.html17/12/2009 17:18:51David Wood presents his own theatre show for children combining magic, music and audience participation in an hour of entertainment and fun. He is accompanied by Peter Pontzen, the BBC Playschool pianist.   "Take your earplugs for the cheering..." Daily Telegraphhttp://www.watermill.org.uk/david_woods_magic_show.html17/12/2009 17:11:46 The Watermill launches its new website!  Alongside show information we can display more great images, host video clips and give you a glimpse behind the scenes on our blog. From award-winning shows to Waterminis for the under 5's - find out all about us and let us know what you think.http://www.watermill.org.uk/new_website.html10/11/2009 14:43:32