SAVE THE WATERMILL
The Save The Watermill appeal has reached £2,950,000.
On the home straight!
The appeal has had a substantial injection of cash including further gifts from The Sheepdrove Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, The Cardy Beaver Foundation, The Englefield Charitable Trust and the Ashendene Trust. We have also received donations from The Foyle Foundation, The Equity Trust and The Bernard Sunley Charitable Trust. The gala event held at the theatre on 1 March, celebrating forty years of The Watermill, raised a handsome £35,000. All this means that the total raised so far is £2,950,000.
We now have to raise the remaining £50,000 in order to complete the crucial refurbishment to upgrade and expand facilities. The Watermill is bursting at the seams. The office space is very cramped and the restaurant and bar, when not catering for the audience, are constantly in use for workshops, rehearsals, meetings and seminars. Work is underway on some of the following:
- Extend and refurbish the office space behind the existing office block also providing meetings space and additional rehearsal space.
- Develop the lily pond space adjacent to the restaurant to increase the capacity of the bar and restaurant and allow additional use for education workshops, corporate functions and a small heritage exhibition.
- Refurbish the restaurant.
- Upgrade the actors' accommodation.
- Repair the rehearsal room.
- Improve the car park.
We still need to raise £50,000 to fund this work and secure the theatre's future.
With the help of our friends, supporters and our audience we are confident in achieving this. But we do need your help!
“The Watermill Theatre holds a very special place in my heart. We all start our careers somewhere and The Watermill is a dream come true for so many young actors, placing trust in their talent. It is also much, much more. Somehow the combination of its size and location with actors and directors living and breathing the atmosphere during rehearsal and the theatre’s willingness to take risks results in such refreshingly daring new productions. I love my visits to The Watermill. Of course we must do everything we can to see it continue to flourish.” Dame Judi Dench
“As an actor who began his career here, The Watermill fulfils my vision of a perfect theatre. Please give generously to help The Watermill!” David Suchet
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE
SAVE THE WATERMILL APPEAL
To give online please click here
If you would like to know more please contact:
Jo Bycroft, Watermill Development Director, The Watermill Theatre Trust, Bagnor, Near Newbury, Berkshire RG20 8AE or e-mail appeal@watermill.org.uk or telephone 01635 570928
"It is absolutely fantastic that this renowned and thriving theatre has been saved from closure. We must now do all we can to raise the rest of the money needed to secure its future and see it thrive for many years to come."
Timothy West
"Producing theatres like The Watermill which support young people at the start of their careers must not be allowed to close. Without those early years at The Watermill where I started my career, I would have been denied an opportunity to make a life in the theatre. I urge everyone to support the appeal and make sure The Watermill survives for the future." Bill Nighy
"I began my career at The Watermill, that powerhouse, that breeding ground for new talent. The work created there travels all over the world and it remains one of a dwindling number of theatres prepared to give opportunities to newcomers. We must do everything we can to support and sustain it." Ed Hall
"I have been associated with The Watermill theatre for 20 years. It has been a privilege and an honour to be part of this beautiful venue and all that it has achieved. How sad it would be to lose this tiny jewel in Berkshire. Over half the money to Save The Watermill has already been raised. I urge you all from the bottom of my heart to continue with your support, dig deep into your pockets and let this theatre live on. This was Jill Fraser's greatest wish, let us make it come true. The future of The Watermill depends upon us all."Helen Watson
To ensure that we reach our target, the theatre has formed an Appeal Board, chaired by Ralph Bernard, Chief Executive of GCap Media (the company that owns 210 FM, Capital Radio and Classic FM). Members of the Appeal Board are:
Ralph Bernard CBE (Chairman)
Sarah Diamandis
John Hayward OBE DCL
John Jarvis CVO CBE
Marianne Kingham
Clare MacInnes
Deborah Puxley
Patrick Taylor
Andrew Tuckey
John Wynne-Williams
“I am delighted to help Save The Watermill. We are extremely lucky to have a theatre right on our doorstep that produces top quality, original work, and serves the local community so effectively. And we must raise the money to secure its future.”
Ralph Bernard, Chairman of The Watermill Appeal Board.
Click here now to give on-line to Save The Watermill
"What they have achieved at The Watermill is little short of miraculous. The theatre deserves a golden future."
Alan Plater
"The Watermill has been an important part of my theatrical life. I did one of my first jobs there in 1980 – 25 years ago – and am proud still to be part of its journey. Under Jill Fraser’s remarkable directorship the theatre has gone on to great things. I am sure there are many more great things to come in the next 25 years!" John Doyle
"It’s remarkable to see what comes out of such a small theatre. There is a magic in the air at The Watermill that creates magnificent theatre not just for West Berkshire but for the wider region, the rest of the country and internationally and that is why the Arts Council is supporting The Watermill." Sally Abbott, Director of Performing Arts, Arts Council England South East
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