Following last season’s success with A Monster Calls, The Watermill’s Youth Ensemble present Through the Looking-Glass: And What Alice Found There from March 23-25. The play is a fantastic family adventure exploring the strange world of Lewis Carroll from Writer in Residence, Becca Chadder. Tickets are available online at watermill.org.uk or via the box office on 01635 46044.
The cast is made up of thirty-one performers with a team of six backstage, including one work experience placement in the technical department. The backstage roles cover technical work, stage design, directing, stage management, and documentation of the rehearsal process. The Youth Theatre is as much about the world behind the scenes as it is about shining on stage – there’s a role for every young person who wants to be involved.
The production is set to be the first at the theatre where every performance will be BSL integrated, captioned, audio described and relaxed. This holistic approach to access speaks to the Outreach team’s ongoing mission to make The Watermill a welcoming space for all.
Becca Chadder said, “It’s a dream come true to return to the Watermill Youth Theatre as a playwright after growing up a member of the company. I learnt so much from my time at the Watermill that has shaped who I am today, so it’s a real honour to play a part in the work they do.”
Since its post-pandemic launch, the Youth Ensemble has established itself as an integral part of The Watermill’s programming. Participants of any of The Watermill’s regular Outreach groups are eligible to join the Youth Ensemble productions, offering the opportunity to create a full-scale production on the venue’s professional stage.
Matty Green, Director and Outreach Assistant, said, “The Youth Ensemble is a brilliant opportunity for young people to be a part of a theatrical process from start to end, working with professional production teams. This can be onstage or behind the scenes in directing, design, tech and beyond, which for many of us here at the Watermill is how we started our journey to a career in the arts.
Working on this project with this excellent group of young people and brilliant crew has been a blast and I’m excited for our audiences to see this story!”