What's happening at The Watermill

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The Watermill Theatre and Restaurant's January Newsletter

Happy New Year! We’ve got so much to share with you about all that’s happening at The Watermill in 2016, so dig out the last of the Christmas chocolate (you know where you’ve hidden it!) make a cup of tea and prepare to indulge your creative senses…

In the 400th anniversary year of Shakespeare’s death and kicking off the new season, our new artistic director, Paul Hart directs Romeo + Juliet.

Five reasons to see our production of Romeo + Juliet:


1) Watermill Shakespeare productions have an amazing reputation. They’ve toured the world from Buenos Aires to Singapore, New York to China, Bangladesh to Japan, and have transferred into the West End.


2) This production features music by internationally successful musician Johnny Flynn. Johnny also composed the music for The Globe’s 2015 production of As You Like It.


3) Discover the stars of tomorrow.
The last time a full production of Romeo and Juliet was staged at The Watermill, Sean Bean and Kathryn Hunter played leading roles at the beginning of their professional careers. For this production, Paul Hart has worked with the National Youth Theatre to create an outstanding new ensemble.


4) Shakespeare is known as the greatest of storytellers and The Watermill brings his work to life so that all those people who think they won’t get it – do!


5) Be part of the action. The theatre will be transformed into the round with some seats forming part of the set for a different and quite special experience.


Now booking!

Thu 25 Feb – Sat 2 April

Tickets £26.50 - £15

Production sponsored by Sheepdrove Organic Farm

Also supported by an anonymous donor

Get a unique insight into the creation of Romeo + Juliet


Work with a professional director to discover the creative process, act a selection of scenes and then watch the performance in the theatre.

Places available for anyone age 16+


Saturday 5 March

Price £50 includes a top price ticket for the matinée performance and a light lunch.


For more information and to book, email emma@watermill.org.uk

Tell Me On A Sunday

Now in rehearsal at The Watermill, Jodie Prenger prepares for her role as Emma in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black’s West End hit, Tell Me On A Sunday. You can hear Jodie talking about her role and listen to her singing the title track.


The show has sold out at The Watermill but keep checking the website or call the box office for returns or to be added to the waiting list. After her run at The Watermill from 28 January to 20 February, Jodie tours around the UK until June. You can see a list of the
theatres here.


Untold Stories

Playwright, actor and writer Alan Bennett talked about his life-long love of music in a special edition of BBC Radio 3’s Private Passions over the Christmas period. A fascinating insight, well worth a listen. Some of the music that underscored his childhood will be brought to life later this year in our production of Untold Stories, a double bill of memoirs offering a glimpse into the early life of one of the nation’s most successful playwrights.


Thu 5 May – Sat 11 June

Tickets £26.50 - £15

February half term activities


The most valuable asset a nation has is the creativity of its children.’ Alan Pater, Playwright


Our half term courses are a great opportunity for children to use their imagination and learn new skills.


Devise, rehearse and perform a brand new Play in a Day on Mon 15 February (8-11 years) or Tue 16 February (12-16 years). 

Price £35.


Take part in a Stage Combat Workshop on Wed 17 February to discover how fights are convincingly created onstage without causing actual injury! 

Price £14.


To find out more and book, please email emma@watermill.org.uk


New opportunities to take part - now booking!


Lixi Chivas, our new Community Associate, is now taking bookings for our community projects starting in January and February, made possible by the generous support of Greenham Common Trust.


‘Fourth Wall’ invites adults with learning disabilities to explore Romeo + Juliet over 8 weeks, culminating in a group trip to watch The Watermill's production together.


‘LACES Creative Challenge’ offers looked-after, fostered, or post-adoption young people the opportunity to create, collaborate and play in a weeklong drama course during February half term.


To learn more about these and other projects that Lixi is developing, keep an eye on our blog or email lixi@watermill.org.uk

Do you know of anyone with ambitious New Year's Resolutions?

Have any of you, your friends or family signed up to run a marathon, sky dive, bungee jump or something similar in the New Year?


The Watermill Theatre has recently registered as a charity on BT MyDonate. You can view our page here. If you know anyone who is looking to do a challenge and wants to find a charity to support, please feel free to suggest The Watermill Theatre. All you need to do is register on the website as a fundraiser and start promoting your challenge. BT MyDonate make it very easy to follow with step by step instructions on how to set up your page.


We would be so grateful for your support, every donation really does make a difference.

Sleeping Beauty

The transformation of the theatre into Wonderland has been reversed following the last performance of our Christmas show, Alice in Wonderland. The spring season is already on sale and so too is our next Christmas show – Sleeping Beauty by Rufus Norris. So if you want to ensure you get tickets for the performance you want, now’s the time to book!

We’re also taking bookings for our next Relaxed Performance, following the success of our first one during Alice. This will take place on Saturday 26 November at 2.30pm.
Call the box office to buy your tickets on 01635 46044.

Hardboiled: The Fall of Sam Shadow

We’re delighted that Hardboiled: The Fall of Sam Shadow which The Watermill Theatre co-produced with Rhum and Clay Theatre Company in 2014, is transferring to the New Diorama Theatre, in London.

Inspired by classic film noirs like The Big Sleep and Chinatown, Hardboiled is a slick and witty journey through a celluloid world of crooked cops, private eyes and femme fatales. If you missed it here, or would like to see it again, it runs at New Diorama from 9 to 27 February.

Lady Bader

We were deeply saddened to hear of the death of Lady Bader, widow of war pilot, Sir Douglas Bader, and loyal Watermill supporter. Lady Bader was a member of our Friends of The Watermill committee for over 20 years and her Pimms stall at the theatre’s summer fair was a favourite fixture. Lady Bader gave much of her time to her extensive charitable work and will be very greatly missed.  Our sincere condolences to her family. You can read more about Lady Bader’s life in The Daily Telegraph’s obituary here.

The Watermill Theatre,
Bar and Restaurant
Bagnor, Newbury,
Berkshire RG20 8AE


Book online
watermill.org.uk

Box Office
01635 46044



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