Only two weeks ago The Watermill Theatre was awarded Theatre of the Year 2024 at The Stage Awards (shared with The National Theatre). Now, its 2023 production of Lord of the Rings has won Best Regional Production at the 24th annual WhatsOnStage Awards at the London Palladium on Sunday February 11th.
As well as thanking everyone who voted for them, a spokesperson for The Watermill said, “This is a testament to the hard work of the cast, creative team, crew, all of the Watermill staff and their sheer commitment to the wild idea of bringing such a behemoth to our small but perfectly formed 200 seat theatre. We so loved welcoming audiences from all over the world to our little corner of West Berkshire last year, thank you for coming to the Shire and venturing to Middle-earth with us.”
The Watermill Theatre have also announced the full programme for their 2024 season. The Watermill’s 2024 summer musical will be a revival of the Olivier and Tony award-nominated musical Barnum from 2 July – 8 September. Featuring music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Michael Stewart, and a book by Mark Bramble, the show takes audiences into the dazzling world of the legendary P.T. Barnum where imagination and ambition know no bounds.
From 12 April – 18 May, The Watermill’s critically acclaimed Watermill Ensemble will sashay into the Golden Age of Hollywood in a new take on Shakespeare’s classic comedy Much Ado About Nothing. Adapted by Tom Wentworth and directed by Paul Hart, the new production sets the comedy at a bustling film set and will feature a 1940s-inspired soundscape, played live by the ensemble cast of actor-musicians.
From 23 May – 15 June, RJG Productions and The Watermill will present the world premiere of FANNY, a new comedy by Calum Finlay, directed by Katie-Ann McDonough, and starring Charlie Russell (The Goes Wrong Show – BBC, The Play That Goes Wrong – West End & Broadway), that reveals that Fanny Mendelssohn, sister of renowned composer Felix Mendelssohn, wrote some of his greatest hits.
From 20 September – 2 November, The Watermill will stage a new production of David Seidler’s The King’s Speech, directed by Emma Butler (Never Have I Ever – Chichester Festival Theatre, Camelot –West End), which takes an intimate view of one of life’s most unorthodox relationships between Bertie, the soon-to-be-crowned King George VI, and speech therapist Lionel Logue. As Hitler’s threat on Europe encroaches, Bertie fights his own battle to overcome his speech impediment at the time his country needs him most.
From 15 November – 5 January 2025, The Watermill’s annual festive production will be a new musical adaptation of Pinocchio .
The Watermill will also welcome The Wardrobe Ensemble with their brand-new adaptation of Babette Cole’s Princess Smartypants (4 – 6 April), a subversive, fun-filled adventure for children aged 4+ and their families; the popular Watermill Comedy Night returns with Laura Lexx headlining (6 April), and there is another opportunity to shop at the Watermill with a new Farmer’s Market full of delicious produce from a host of local suppliers (26 April).
Priority booking opens for Friends and Members on 9 February, with memberships starting at £35 for the year. Email subscribers booking opens on 16 February with general booking opening the following day on 17 February. Tickets for the season start at £15 and can be booked online at watermill.org.uk or by calling the box office on 01635 46044.