The Watermill Theatre Autumn 2015 Season Brochure

Summer/Winter 2015 Oliver!

The Ladykillers Macbeth Gormenghast Alice in Wonderland

www.watermill.org.uk BOX OFFICE 01635 46044

Welcome to The Watermill

Welcome to our new season of shows which this year includes a very special summer musical, Lionel Bart’s muchloved Oliver! For the first time we bring together members of our youth theatre and local children to perform alongside our professional company of actormusicians. The singular atmosphere of The Watermill will add an extra dimension to the story of the orphan boy and his journey through London’s murky underworld.

Later in the year we’ll be staging another hit show, a brilliant stage adaptation of the Ealing Comedy, The Ladykillers, by Graham Linehan, writer of Father Ted and The IT Crowd. And we’ll be taking you on a journey to meet fantastical, curiouser and curiouser characters in our Christmas show, Alice in Wonderland, by the same team that created last year’s Christmas hit Peter Pan.

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I hope that you find plenty to enjoy during the coming months. It has been a poignant programme for me to plan as I stand down as Artistic and Executive Director of this wonderful theatre in a few months’ time. It has been a privilege to work in this unique venue whose small stature belies its artistic ambitions and achievements. A particular pleasure has been to meet so many of you during my time here - we couldn’t achieve anything without your loyalty and support. I hope you will continue to come and enjoy The Watermill in the years ahead and I’ll no doubt see you again when I visit to see the shows, this time as a member of the audience!

Hedda Beeby Artistic & Executive Director

Frien ds’ P riorit Book y ing o pens Mond ay 11 May. Gene ral bo oking open s Mo nday 18 M ay.

Contents Main Theatre Productions

Other Events David Soul reads Pablo Neruda

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Oliver!

Tell Me On A Sunday preview

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Watermill Book Club

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An Audience With‌

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Page 4

Children and Family Events

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Thursday 24 September to Saturday 31 October

Take Part

Friday 31 July to Saturday 19 September

The Ladykillers

Children 14

Page 5 Monday 2 to Saturday 7 November

Macbeth Page 6 Wednesday 11 to Saturday 14 November

Gormenghast Page 7 Thursday 19 November to Sunday 3 January

Alice in Wonderland

Adults

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Professionals

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Backstage Tours

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Join us Online

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Restaurant and Bar

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General Information Become a Friend

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Supporting Your Theatre

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Your Visit - Accessible Theatre

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Ticket Prices

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How to Book

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Performance Diary

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How to Find Us

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Page 8

Front cover:

Far From The Madding Crowd May 2015 Left: Watermill Young Company

Twelfth Night November 2014

The Watermill is a registered charity no. 261430 and receives core funding from

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Friday 31 July to Saturday 19 September Directed by Luke Sheppard Musical Supervisor and Musical Arrangements by Paul Herbert Designed by Tom Rogers Lighting designed by Howard Hudson Sound designed by Tom Marshall Choreographed by Tim Jackson

Oliver!

Book, Music and Lyrics by Lionel Bart Adapted from William David Brohn’s Original Orchestrations By arrangement with Cameron Mackintosh and the Southbrook Group.

Set in London’s murky underworld, Lionel Bart’s much-loved musical tells the story of the runaway orphan Oliver and the colourful characters he encounters on his escape from the workhouse. The bullying Mr Bumble, devious gang leader Fagin, menacing Bill Sikes, his kindly girlfriend Nancy and the Artful Dodger are brought vividly to life in the atmospheric setting of the old mill.

A company of the theatre’s trademark actor-musicians, with a supporting cast of Watermill Youth Theatre actors, and Bart’s witty and memorable songs, including You’ve Got to Pick A Pocket Or Two, Consider Yourself and I’d Do Anything, Oliver! will tug at your heart strings, make you smile and most definitely make you want to sing along!

Tickets Monday evenings, Wednesday matinées: £18.50, £17.50.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday evenings & Saturday matinées: £28, £26 and £18.50.

Friday & Saturday evenings: £30, £28, £19.

Please note, for this production the week day matinées are on Wednesdays.

First Week Special On Friday 31 July seats are: £18.50 and £17.50 (no other discounts apply).

See pages 26-27 for performance diary and show times

www.watermill.org.uk Box Office 01635 46044 4

Thursday 24 September to Saturday 31 October Directed by Lee Lyford Designed by Simon Kenny

The Ladykillers

By Graham Linehan

From the motion picture screenplay by William Rose by special arrangement with Studiocanal and by special arrangement with Fiery Angel Ltd. London Criminal mastermind, Professor Marcus, and his gang of oddball villains posing as musicians, meet their match when they take up residence in the top floor room of Mrs Wilberforce’s dilapidated house. A convenient location to plan their heist, they figure their sweet-natured old landlady will be easily hoodwinked. But beneath her demure exterior, Mrs Wilberforce is made of sterner stuff and, with just her parrot, General Gordon, for moral support, she turns the tables on the bogus quartet.

Based on the much-loved Ealing Comedy, this award-winning stage adaptation by Graham Linehan, writer of Father Ted and The IT Crowd, fizzes with fun.

Tickets Monday evenings, Thursday and Saturday matinées: £15.50 and £15.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings: £24, £22, £15.

Friday and Saturday evenings: £26.50, £24.50, £16.50.

First Week Special On the first Thursday and Friday seats are £15.50 & £15 (no other discounts apply).

Saturday 10 October at 2.30pm

Saturday 24 October at 1.30pm

Saturday 24 October at 2.30pm

See pages 26-27 for performance diary and show times

www.watermill.org.uk Box Office 01635 46044 5

Monday 2 to Saturday 7 November Directed by Cressida Brown Macbeth is touring to schools within one hour’s drive of The Watermill. If you would like to book a performance, email beth@watermill.org.uk Workshops are available and a free education pack can be downloaded at www.watermill.org.uk/education_packs Macbeth on tour is generously supported

by The Dr. Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundation

Macbeth

By William Shakespeare Adapted by Beth Flintoff

Tickets Monday to Saturday evenings: £12.50 and £12, £10 tickets for 18 - 25s.

Wednesday and Thursday matinées: £8 and £7.50.

In a country ravaged by war, three witches wait for the young soldier Macbeth on a desolate heath. They tell him he will be King. When Macbeth is unexpectedly promoted, and with the Witches’ prophesy ringing in his ears, his bloody ambition takes hold. How far will he and his resolute wife go to win more power?

In a mythical world of dictatorship, uprisings, famine and war, Shakespeare examines what it truly means to be a tyrant. An ideal introduction to Shakespeare, this production is performed by only three actors and features the original text cut to a fast-paced, blood-spattered 75 minutes.

‘Students buzzing after - loved it!’

‘Really clear story-telling - amazing within an hour.’

See pages 26-27 for performance diary and show times

Comments from teachers - Hamlet schools tour, 2014.

www.watermill.org.uk Box Office 01635 46044

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Wednesday 11 to Saturday 14 November Directed by Seamus Allen The Watermill Young Company is generously supported by The Dr. Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundation

The Watermill Young Company presents

Gormenghast

Tickets £11.50 & £11, concessions £6.50 & £6.

By Mervyn Peake Adapted by John Constable ‘There is nowhere to go… You will only tread a circle, Titus Groan.

Everything returns… to Gormenghast.’

Gormenghast, a crumbling, labyrinthine castle in a world dominated by iron-clad laws and ancient decaying ritual. Titus Groan is the seventy-seventh Earl and heir to Gormenghast, with a longing for life beyond the castle walls. Steerpike is a lowly kitchen boy, with limitless, murderous ambition.

The Watermill Young Company brings to life one of the twentieth century’s most remarkable feats of imaginative writing. An epic melodrama of dizzying scope, wit and an array of fantastical characters.

‘The Watermill’s young company of actor-musicians pass the Shakespeare challenge with flying colours.’

Newbury Weekly News - Twelfth Night, 2014

See pages 26-27 for performance diary and show times

www.watermill.org.uk Box Office 01635 46044 7

Thursday 19 November to Sunday 3 January Directed by Robin Belfield Original music by Simon Slater Designed by Neil Irish Lighting designed by Mark Dymock

A Special Wonderland Tea Characters from Alice’s adventures conjured up on a plate! You’ll be beaming like the Cheshire Cat when you’ve eaten our tasty tea, fit to be served at the Mad Hatter’s tea party. Make sure the Queen of Hearts doesn’t spot those tarts though!

Available after all matinée performances.

Please book when buying your tickets.

Price £6.25.

Alice in Wonderland

By Lewis Carroll Adapted by Robin Belfield and Simon Slater

Tickets From Thursday 19 November to Thursday 17 December: £19, £15.50, £10.50.

From Saturday 19 December to Sunday 3 January: £21, £16.50 and £11.

Discounts are not available on Saturday or Sunday or after Thursday 17 December.

Relaxed Performance Monday 30 November at 6.30pm, see page 23.

Chasing a mysterious white rabbit with a pocket watch, Alice tumbles down a rabbit hole and into a world of fun and adventure. There she meets the colourful characters of Wonderland and hears their fantastical tales. After a mad tea party, a curious game of croquet and a nail-biting trial to find out who stole a very special plate of jam tarts, will Alice find her way home?

Saturday 12 December at 2.30pm

Saturday 2 January at 1.30pm

Saturday 2 January at 2.30pm

The creators of last year’s sell-out Christmas show, Peter Pan, bring to life Lewis Carroll’s classic novel, 150 years after it was first published. Join Alice in an enchanting world of talking animals, a bad-tempered Queen and a Mad Hatter for an unforgettable musical adventure.

See pages 26-27 for performance diary and show times

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www.watermill.org.uk Box Office 01635 46044

Sunday 6 September at 7pm

The Poetry and Passion of Pablo Neruda With David Soul, Hugh Burns and Adam Feinstein Poet, diplomat, senator, champion of the working man, citizen of the world, lover and bon vivant - Chilean Pablo Neruda wrote what he lived and lived what he wrote. His life and his art were inseparable and his passion for both, contagious. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1971. The raw sensuality and tenderness of his love poetry; the surreal simplicity of his celebration of all things ordinary; the power of his epic poetry and his passion for social justice, is testimony to a man whose life’s work remains as vital today as it ever was.

Neruda’s poetry will be read by actor David Soul who performed in The Watermill’s production of Mack and Mable. David is best known for his role as Hutch in the US TV series Starsky and Hutch and is a veteran of film, TV and theatre. Joining David will be guitarist Hugh Burns who has worked with a range of musicians from Paul McCartney to Placido Domingo.

There will be a question and answer session at the end of the performance with Adam Feinstein, writer, poet, translator and author of the acclaimed biography, Pablo Neruda: A Passion for Life.

Tickets £15 and £14.50.

The restaurant will be open before the event. Please reserve a table when booking your tickets online at www.watermill.org.uk or with the box office on 01635 46044.

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PREVIEW Thursday 28 January to Saturday 20 February

Book ing open s Mo nday 7 Sep temb er at 10 am

The Watermill Theatre in association with Jamie Wilson present

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black’s West End and Broadway hit

Tell Me On A Sunday with Jodie Prenger

Following her acclaimed performance in The Watermill’s 2014 production of Calamity Jane, Jodie Prenger now steps into Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black’s classic musical, Tell Me On A Sunday.

Tell Me On A Sunday charts the romantic misadventures of a young English girl in New York in the heady days of the 1980s.

Brimming with optimism, she seeks success and love. But as she weaves her way through the maze of the city and her own anxieties, frustrations and heartaches, she begins to wonder whether she’s been looking for love in all the wrong places.

This iconic musical, with a wonderful original score, features Unexpected Song, the chart-topping Take That Look Off Your Face, and title track Tell Me On A Sunday.

Performed by many legendary musical theatre stars including Marti Webb and Sarah Brightman, this new 2016 production directed by Paul Foster includes an intimate post-show chat with Jodie about life, love and playing the role of Emma.

Tickets Monday evening, Thursday & Saturday matinées: £15.50 & £14.50.

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday evenings: £24, £22, £15.

Friday & Saturday evenings: £26.50, £24.50, £16.50.

www.watermill.org.uk Box Office 01635 46044 10

Watermill Book Club Our Book Club events are a great opportunity to indulge your love of books. There’s no joining fee and no need to read the books in advance. Books will be on sale at the theatre and the authors will sign them after the events.

Wednesday 20 May at 1.30pm

Tuesday 1 December at 7pm

John Julius Norwich Sicily

Professor Robert DouglasFairhurst The Story of Alice

Much-loved historian, John Julius 2nd Viscount Norwich, resigned from a career in the Foreign Service to become a writer in 1964. Since then he has published ten books and edited many more. He has also made 30 historical documentary films for the BBC. For four years, John Julius Norwich was Chairman of the popular BBC panel game My Word, was a regular contestant in Round Britain Quiz, Transatlantic Quiz and Round Europe Quiz, and for three years presented the Evening Concert six nights a week on Classic FM. John’s latest book, Sicily, is a colourful and lavishly illustrated history (fifty years in the making) of the Mediterranean’s largest and most turbulent island.

Tickets £6

Lewis Carroll and the Secret History of Wonderland Wonderland is part of our cultural heritage - a shortcut for all that is beautiful and confusing; a metaphor used by artists, writers and politicians for 150 years.

But beneath the fairy tale lies the complex history of the author and his subject: Charles Dodgson, the quiet academic, and his second self, Lewis Carroll - storyteller and innovator. And of his ‘dream-child’, Alice Liddell, and the fictional alter ego that would never let her grow up.

Drawing on previously unpublished material, Professor Robert Douglas-Fairhurst traces the creation and influence of the Alice books against a shifting cultural landscape.

Tickets £6

The restaurant will be open before the event. Please reserve a table when booking your tickets online at www.watermill.org.uk or with the box office on 01635 46044.

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An Audience With...

Book for both even ts for £ 40

A series of special fundraising events for The Watermill.

Tuesday 8 September at 2pm

Tuesday 6 October at 2pm

Mrs Minnie Churchill DL

Sir Richard Shirreff

Minnie Churchill is the Director of Churchill Heritage and co-author, with David Coombs, the art historian of Sir Winston Churchill His Life and His Paintings. Minnie was responsible for tracing Sir Winston’s 500 plus paintings across the world and the stories associated with their ownership, spending six years on this adventure. She undertook this fascinating work to show her love and respect for this great man. ‘It was a journey for me, a way to give something back’.

Waterloo - the Battle which defined a Century

Minnie is the granddaughter-in-law of the late Sir Winston and Lady Churchill, formerly married to Winston Churchill, Member of Parliament for 25 years.

Sir Richard has had a distinguished military career and his command appointments have included 7th Armoured Brigade, 3rd (UK) Division, the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps and NATO’s Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe. He withdrew from active service as a soldier in 2014. He is now developing his second career as a consultant/advisor in strategic risk.

Tickets £25

In the bicentennial year of the Battle of Waterloo, General Sir Richard Shirreff brings a professional soldier’s perspective to the momentous events of the Waterloo campaign of June 1815. Drawing on original accounts from the soldiers who fought there, he recounts the story of the battle which set the conditions for the European order for much of the 19th Century.

Tickets £25 Meet our Audience With... guests in the bar after the events for tea and cake.

The restaurant will be open before the event. Please reserve a table when booking your tickets online at www.watermill.org.uk or with the box office on 01635 46044.

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Children and Family Events

Saturday 5 September at 10am and 11.15am

The Selfish Giant

By Oscar Wilde

Tuesday 27 October 10am to 11.30am or 11.30am to 1pm

Alice in Wonderland Fun Day

Adapted and performed by Lizzie Lewis

A morning of activities for families celebrating our Christmas show Alice in Wonderland.

Every day the local children love to stop on their way home and play in a beautiful deserted garden. But the garden belongs to none other than a giant - who doesn’t like children one bit! And when he comes home, he throws all the children out, which makes the garden so sad that nothing grows there anymore.

Hunt for Wonderland characters around the garden and claim your treasure when you’ve discovered their hiding places. Listen to stories in the theatre, take part in themed arts activities and dress up in a wonderful array of costumes from past Watermill productions.

Can you help the children to save their garden, and help the Giant to see some sense?

Ideal for children up to 10 years.

This interactive adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s timeless children’s classic is especially created for young children and their brave parents. Suitable for children aged 2 - 6 years. Please bring a cushion. Chairs are also provided.

Tickets for children £5, adults £1

Tickets £5 Book your tickets online at www.watermill.org.uk or with the box office on 01635 46044.

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Take Part - Children To book or for more information about our Take Part activities call Heidi on 01635 570934 or email heidi@watermill.org.uk

Education

Summer Holiday Courses

We continue to offer an extensive education programme for schools including:

Create, rehearse and perform a musical or play all in one week. A great opportunity to make new friends and develop performance skills. No experience necessary - just plenty of enthusiasm!

• Workshops on most aspects of theatre • Free education packs to support your visit • Dynamic CPD and INSET for teachers For full details about our schools’ programme, or to download our education brochure, please visit the Take Part pages on our website www.watermill.org.uk

Monday 10 to Friday 14 August

Play in a Week Ages: 8 - 11 years (9am - 12noon) Ages: 12 - 16 years (1pm - 4pm) Price £95 Monday 17 to Friday 21 August

Alice in the Garden Create, rehearse and perform Alice in Wonderland, in the beautiful surroundings of The Watermill.

Ages: 5 - 7 years (9am - 12noon) Ages: 8 - 11 years (1pm - 4pm) Price £95 Monday 24 to Friday 28 August

Musical in a Week 10am - 4pm Ages: 12 - 16 years Price £155

Play In A Week The Watermill’s core education programme is supported by The Dr. Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundation.

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Take Part - Adults The World of The Ladykillers The Watermill Scratch Choir Saturday 10 October 10am until after the matinée performance.

Gain an insight into the creation of The Ladykillers. Work with a professional director from The Watermill to discover the creative process, act a selection of scenes and then watch the performance in the theatre.

Price £50 (top price ticket for the matinée and a light buffet lunch included). Please book before Monday 3 August to guarantee your theatre ticket.

Our Scratch Choirs offer the opportunity to spend the day with a group of like-minded people learning songs, and then performing them in the evening in our beautiful tithe barn.

Rehearsals 10am to 6pm, performance at 7.30pm.

Sunday 18 October

Songs from the Sixties Booking opens 3 August.

If you’ve ever wanted to have a go at singing songs from The Beatles or The Beach Boys, now’s your chance!

Price £29 Sunday 6 December

Christmas Classics Booking opens 19 October.

Get in the mood for Christmas by spending the day singing some favourite festive songs.

Price £29

To book for all events call Heidi on 01635 570934 or email heidi@watermill.org.uk

The Bard Unbound October 2014

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Take Part - Professionals To book or for more information about our Take Part activities call Heidi on 01635 570934 or email heidi@watermill.org.uk

Raising Voices

Actors’ Forum

The Outreach Department continues to support the work of new playwrights.

Send your work to us and we will read and respond as part of our ongoing commitment to nurturing new writing talent. A professional writer/director from The Watermill team will read and respond with constructive criticism and advice.

We run a regular monthly group for local professional actors to exchange ideas and share skills.

The fee for submissions is £33 per play (to cover reader’s fees).

The Actors’ Forum is supported by The Dr. Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundation.

Training for Businesses Our bespoke arts-based training programme is flexible and highly costeffective. We offer dynamic training in communication and presentation skills, as well as unique team building activities.

‘Thank you once again for putting the laughter back into this team.’

Senior Manager and participant

Journey’s End September 2014

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Backstage Tours

Join us Online

If you’re interested in what goes on behind the scenes at The Watermill, you might like to combine your visit to see a matinée performance with a backstage tour followed by lunch. You’ll get to meet the staff, see where the actors rehearse and visit the old and new buildings that make up The Watermill. Tours will take place on the following afternoons starting at 12.30pm.

For behind the scenes news, the latest event information, or to subscribe to our e-newsletter, visit our website www.watermill.org.uk

Wednesday 26 August Oliver! £34.50 Thursday 22 October The Ladykillers £31.50 The price includes a tour, one course meal with coffee and a ticket for that day’s matinée performance. For a tour of the theatre and one course meal with coffee excluding a ticket for the show, the price is £17 per person.

Read our online blog: www.watermill.org.uk/blog www.facebook.com/thewatermilltheatre watermilltheatreoutreach www.twitter.com/watermillth thewatermilltheatre www.youtube.com/user/TheWatermillTheatre See production photos on Flickr

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.uk

But First This October 2014

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Restaurant and Bar

Before the show

After the show

Enjoy a tempting selection of seasonal salads, terrines and pâtés, and a choice of hot dishes using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. Available at lunch time on matinée days from 12.30pm and in the evenings Monday to Saturday from 5.30pm.

Sharing platters may be ordered to eat after the show from Monday to Saturday.

Please pre-order to avoid disappointment.

In the bar

Friday and Saturday evenings Dine after the show. Choose from one, two or three courses from our menu.

Have a drink and bar snack before the show. Sharing platters, including Cheese Lovers’ platter and Antipasti Assorti are available. You can also buy chips and dips, or order olives served with breadsticks and balsamic oil to eat in the interval. Available in the bar and Lily Pond up to 30 minutes before curtain up.

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Cream teas are available after matinée performances and should be booked and paid for in advance with the box office.

Please make your selection from the menu before the show.

Restaurant bookings should be made in advance online at www.watermill.org.uk or with the box office on 01635 46044.

Celebratory Packages Whether it’s for a small birthday party, a get-together with friends, or an anniversary, our celebratory packages are available before the show or in the interval for parties of ten or more and consists of a glass of Prosecco, canapés, and chef’s homemade celebratory cake.

Private Hire Our beautiful venue is available for you to hire. Weddings, parties, meetings and seminars may be held here during the day and on Sundays. All public areas are available to hire including the theatre, Sackler Studio and Lily Pond Courtyard, as well as the bar and restaurant.

Christmas Meals and Parties The Watermill is a lovely place for you and your friends or colleagues to celebrate the festive season.

Our Christmas menu is available to groups from 20 November to 3 January 2016.

Call 01635 570920 or email restaurant@watermill.org.uk for further information and to book.

A Special Wonderland Tea Characters from Alice’s adventures conjured up on a plate!

You’ll be beaming like the Cheshire Cat when you’ve eaten our tasty tea, fit to be served at the Mad Hatter’s tea party. Make sure the Queen of Hearts doesn’t spot those tarts though!

Available after all matinée performances of Alice in Wonderland for £6.25. Please book your tea when buying your tickets.

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Become a Friend of The Watermill By becoming a Friend of The Watermill Theatre your support goes to the heart of what we do - create exciting and memorable theatre for all to enjoy.

As a Watermill Friend, you will receive: • priority booking (wherever possible).

• free exchange or resale of tickets (restrictions apply)*

Meet the Cast Parties An opportunity to meet the cast in the bar after the evening performance.

Thursday 13 August Oliver!

Thursday 1 October The Ladykillers

• invitations to drinks parties

• regular Friends’ events information

The Watermill Christmas Fair

Typically, our Friends make a £30 donation as an individual supporter or £45 as a joint supporter (two people living at the same address).

Friday 13 November from 9.30am to 2.30pm

To become a Friend, please go online and download a form at www.watermill.org.uk/the_friends_of_the_watermill or call The Friends Secretary on 01635 45834.

The Friends of The Watermill are once again bringing together a wonderful assortment of unusual and desirable gifts to help you to enjoy your Christmas shopping experience! We will be welcoming some new stall holders as well as popular suppliers of gifts and local artisan products, offering a wide range of choice to suit the whole family.

• invitations to a whole host of events, including supper clubs, theatre trips, walks with talks, workshops and much more

*Individual Friend: two exchanges or resales per year of membership, Joint Friend: three exchanges or resales per year.

The Friends of The Watermill make an impressive financial contribution to the theatre (a registered charity), last year we raised over £80,000, through annual donations and organised events of the Friends and helped the theatre sustain its high quality, first class performances. We look forward to welcoming you.

Meet a friend for a coffee, a glass of mulled wine or a light lunch.

Price: £3 on the door, children free (prams restricted to bar area only).

Organised free parking.

No pre-booking required and everyone welcome.

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Supporting Your Theatre Creating memorable theatre for all to enjoy is our raison d’être and each year we welcome over 65,000 people to The Watermill. We also run a packed outreach programme in which over 13,500 from our local community participate. Last year our work on tour was seen by a further 127,500, mainly due to the success of our Calamity Jane tour.

As a producing theatre, we assemble a new cast and creative team for each show, who live on site throughout the rehearsal and performance period, becoming part of The Watermill family. It costs in the region of £2.5 million to produce our shows and run the theatre and education programme each year.

As a registered charity, a significant percentage of our income is earned through ticket and restaurant sales but for the remainder, we rely on the generosity of people like you to help keep this wonderful theatre running. There are many ways in which you can support us. For example, becoming a Friend of The Watermill, making a regular or one-off donation, leaving a gift in your Will, joining our exclusive Watermill Circle or becoming a Benefactor.

Businesses also contribute to the financial success of the theatre by becoming sponsors. We remain grateful to the following people and organisations who help us make inspiring ideas come to life. Thank you.

Watermill Sponsors • Accenture • du Pré plc • Horsey Lightly Solicitors • Saica Pack • Sheepdrove Organic Farm Trusts and Foundations • The Arbib Foundation • The Car-Gregory Trust • Cardy Beaver Foundation • C E Eliot-Cohen Charitable Settlement • The Colefax Charitable Trust • Peter Cundill Foundation • The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust • The Dyers’ Company • The Englefield Charitable Trust • Fuller’s Charity • The AW Gale Charitable Trust • Gamlen Charitable Trust • Payne Gallwey Charitable Trust • Garfield Weston Foundation • Greenham Common Community Trust Ltd • The Headley Trust • The Iliffe Family Charitable Trust • The Male Family Charitable Trust

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Miss W E Lawrence 1973 Charitable Settlement Newbury Decorative and Fine Arts Society Philip Oppenheimer Foundation Sheepdrove Trust Sir Siegmund Warburg’s Voluntary Settlement The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation The Patricia Routledge Charitable Trust The Dr. Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundation The Spencer Wills Trust The Stanley Foundation The Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation West Berkshire Council

Platinum Benefactors • Mr James Rees • Sir Trevor Chinn CVO and Lady Chinn • Sir Christopher and Lady Gent • The Hon Christopher and Mrs Sharples • Anonymous • Anonymous • Anonymous Gold Benefactor • Anthony Harris • Anonymous

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Supporting Your Theatre

The Catalyst Scheme We are delighted to announce that we have now reached our Catalyst fundraising target of £110,000. The Catalyst Scheme began over 2½ years ago and has been supported by many generous individuals, Trusts and Foundations. This scheme has primarily encouraged new support which we hope will continue well into the future.

The driving force behind this campaign has been the endorsement from Arts Council England, who agreed to match fund each new donation made. The result has been incredible. We will continue to invest this income into our artistic programme which means we will be able to produce shows with larger casts, create a new community project and we will continue to nurture new creative talent on and off stage.

A huge thank you to all those who generously supported our Catalyst campaign.

The Secret Adversary February 2014

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Your Visit Accessible Theatre Please tell us about any special requirements you, or anyone in your party, may have when you book your seats. The Watermill Theatre premises are 90% accessible to wheelchair users and people with mobility difficulties. There is a spiral staircase to our circle seats on the first floor and no lift, so if you need to be seated in the stalls, please let our box office staff know when you book. There are reserved disabled parking spaces near the theatre entrance which should be requested when you book your tickets. We can accommodate two people in wheelchairs per performance, subject to availability. We also have our own wheelchair available on request.

There is a reduction of £2 off each ticket for both a person with disabilities and their companion on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings only.

Infrared Sennheiser hearing assistance system For people with impaired hearing, subject to availability. To ensure you are seated in areas where this is effective, please let us know you would like to use the system when booking.

Assistance dogs We welcome assistance dogs but please let us know when you book so that we can allocate appropriate seats for you in the auditorium.

Audio and large print copies of our brochure are available on request from the box office.

British Sign Language and Audio Described Performances and Touch Tours Look out for the symbols displayed on the show information pages.

Acclimatisation visits If you have not been to the theatre before, we are happy to arrange for you to come and have a look around to get your bearings when it is not busy.

Parental Guidance As a general rule, no babies or children under 3 will be admitted into the auditorium for any production unless it is a children’s show aimed at very young children. If an age limit is considered appropriate for specific shows, guidelines will be published.

Join our mailing list You can find out what’s going on at The Watermill by joining our free mailing list. Visit our website and complete the form online, email boxoffice@watermill.org.uk or call 01635 46044. Some events are arranged after the brochure has been published.

We announce these in our monthly e-newsletter or by sending an email. If you want to be sure to hear about these events please let us have your email address with permission to contact you.

Relaxed Performance Monday 30 November at 6.30pm

Alice in Wonderland

The purpose of a relaxed performance is to welcome children and adults with special needs, including people with an Autism Spectrum Condition and sensory and communication disorder, and their families, to the theatre. The atmosphere will be more relaxed and there will be small changes to the production itself, for example to lighting and sound effects.

Lights will remain on low in the auditorium and audience members are able to come and go during the performance.

This performance is also suitable for families with younger children or those with babes in arms.

Please book your seats with the box office on 01635 46044

Peter Pan Christmas 2014

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Ticket Prices Performance

Band A

Band B

Band C

Oliver!

First Friday, Monday evenings and Wednesday matinées Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday evenings and Saturday matinées Friday and Saturday evenings

£18.50 £18.50 £17.50 £28 (£26) £26 (£24) £18.50 £30 £28 £19

The Ladykillers First Thursday and Friday, Monday evenings, Thursday and Saturday matinées £15.50 £15.50 £15 Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings £24 (£22) £22 (£20) £15 Friday and Saturday evenings £26.50 £24.50 £16.50 Macbeth Monday to Saturday evenings Wednesday and Thursday matinées

£12.50 £12.50 £12 £8 £8 £7.50

Young Company Gormenghast All performances

£11.50 (£6.50)

£11.50 (£6.50)

Alice in Wonderland Performances from Thursday 19 November to Thursday 17 December From Saturday 19 December to Sunday 3 January

£19 (£17) £21

£15.50 (£13.50) £10.50 £16.50 £11

£11 (£6)

Discounts are not available on Saturday or Sunday or after Thurs 17 December Concession prices are shown in brackets. There is no booking fee. Only one discount applies. Discounts are not offered retrospectively. Proof of eligibility required.

£10 tickets for 18-25s

Schools and youth groups

Groups of 10 or more

For performances from Tuesday to Thursday evenings of The Ladykillers and performances from Monday to Saturday of Macbeth. Book with the box office and collect tickets 30 minutes prior to the performance. These tickets cannot be posted. Proof of status required (subject to availability).

For performances from Tuesday to Friday evenings 10% off top two price bands, applicable to school groups of 10 or more. Free teacher’s ticket with every 15 seats booked, excluding all matinées.

Thursday and Saturday matinées all seats are £7. Excluding Oliver! and Alice in Wonderland. Schools’ tickets for Alice in Wonderland are £8. Not available on Saturday or Sunday or after Thursday 17 December.

For performances from Tuesday to Friday evenings 10% off top two price bands.

Book 15 tickets or more and get an additional free party organiser ticket.

Student and under 18s standby All tickets £5, available from the box office from midday on the day of the show (subject to availability).

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West Berkshire Green Card 10% off top two price bands on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 29 September to 1 October The Ladykillers.

Call the box office on 01635 46044 or email boxoffice@watermill.org.uk

Seating Plan

How To Book Please tell us about any special requirements you, or anyone in your party, may have when you book your seats.

P1

O1 AA BB

BB AA

O22

In person

A1

A12

B1

B12

C1

C12

D1

D12

E1

E12

F1

F12

G1

G12

H1

H12

J1

J11

K1

K12

L1

L12

M1

M12

N1

N11

R1

CIRCLE

CIRCLE SLIPS

CIRCLE SLIPS

STAGE AREA

Opening Times - 10am to 6.30pm, Monday to Saturday. Bank Holidays: 12 noon until 6pm (6.30pm if there is an evening show). Non-performance days: 10am to 6pm.

Box office 01635 46044 During busy times, you may hear a message. Please leave your name and number and we will call you back as soon as we can.

P22

R6

Band A Band B Band C Please note that rows A, AA, B, and BB are not available for all performances.

Rows O and P are galleried with two posts on either side. These seats offer a side or overhead view of the stage and are priced according to visibility.

Agents Tickets can be bought from the Tourist Information Centre, Town Hall, Market Place, Newbury. There is no booking fee.

Book online www.watermill.org.uk There is no booking fee.

We do not currently provide e-tickets but you will receive email confirmation of your booking.

How To Pay Tickets can be paid for by credit or debit card, or they can be reserved for up to three days while you send a cheque or gift vouchers. We can post your tickets to you for a charge of £1.30 (postage and handling) or you can collect your tickets from the box office 30 minutes prior to the performance. Cheques should be made payable to The Watermill Theatre Ltd. Please check your tickets carefully upon receipt to ensure you have the right number and right performance date.

Concessions Concessions are available for Senior Citizens, Job Seekers, people with disabilities and their companions, Equity members, students in full-time education and under 18s: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. All concessions and discounts are subject to availability.

Only one concession applies. Proof of identity required. Concessions are not offered retrospectively.

Exchanging tickets All tickets are non-refundable. However, we are happy to exchange tickets for another performance of the same production, subject to availability, up to 48 hours before the performance. We charge £2.50 per ticket plus £1.30 p&p.

Reselling tickets We will try to resell your tickets (after all other tickets have been sold) and will credit your Watermill account which will be valid for one year. We charge £2.50 per transaction plus £1.30 p&p.

For ticket exchanges and resales, please return your original tickets to the box office.

Gift Vouchers Watermill Vouchers can be purchased from the box office and online and can be used to buy tickets only. We are unable to accept expired vouchers.

Data protection: When processing your booking, our box office staff will ask for your name, address, telephone number and email address. This information may be used to keep you informed of forthcoming events, fundraising activities and special offers. If you do not wish your details to be used in any of these ways, please inform the box office when booking.

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Performance Diary

Sat 5 Oliver!

2.30pm & 7.30pm Sun 6 Poetry of Pablo Neruda 7pm Mon 7 Oliver! 7.30pm JULY Tue 8 Mrs Minnie Churchill DL 2pm Oliver! 7.30pm Fri 31 Tue 8 Oliver! 7.30pm Wed 9 Oliver!

2.30pm & 7.30pm AUGUST Thu 10 Oliver! 7.30pm Sat 1 Oliver!

2.30pm & 7.30pm Fri 11 Oliver! 7.30pm Mon 3 Oliver! 7.30pm Sat 12 Oliver!

2.30pm & 7.30pm Tue 4 Oliver! 7.30pm Mon 14 Oliver! 7.30pm Wed 5 Oliver!

2.30pm & 7.30pm Tue 15 Oliver! 7.30pm Thu 6 Oliver! 7.30pm Wed 16 Oliver!

2.30pm & 7.30pm Fri 7 Oliver! 7.30pm Thu 17 Oliver! 7.30pm Sat 8 Oliver!

2.30pm & 7.30pm Fri 18 Oliver! 7.30pm Mon 10 Oliver! 7.30pm Sat 19 Oliver!

1.30pm & 6.30pm Tue 11 Oliver! 7.30pm Thu 24 The Ladykillers 7.30pm Wed 12 Oliver!

2.30pm & 7.30pm Fri 25 The Ladykillers 7.30pm Thu 13 Oliver! 7.30pm Sat 26 The Ladykillers 2.30pm & 7.30pm Fri 14 Oliver! 7.30pm Mon 28 The Ladykillers 7.30pm Sat 15 Oliver!

2.30pm & 7.30pm Tue 29 The Ladykillers 7.30pm Mon 17 Oliver! 7.30pm Wed 30 The Ladykillers 7.30pm Tue 18 Oliver! 7.30pm OCTOBER Wed 19 Oliver!

2.30pm & 7.30pm The Ladykillers 2.30pm & 7.30pm Thu 1 Thu 20 Oliver! 7.30pm Fri 2 The Ladykillers 7.30pm Fri 21 Oliver! 7.30pm Sat 3 The Ladykillers 2.30pm & 7.30pm Sat 22 Oliver!

2.30pm & 7.30pm Mon 5 The Ladykillers 7.30pm Mon 24 Oliver! 7.30pm Tue 6 Sir Richard Shirreff 2pm Tue 25 Oliver! 7.30pm Tue 6 The Ladykillers 7.30pm Wed 26 Oliver!

2.30pm & 7.30pm Wed 7 The Ladykillers 7.30pm Thu 27 Oliver! 7.30pm Thu 8 The Ladykillers 2.30pm & 7.30pm Fri 28 Oliver! 7.30pm Fri 9 The Ladykillers 7.30pm Sat 29 Oliver!

2.30pm & 7.30pm Sat 10 The Ladykillers 2.30pm & 7.30pm Mon 31 Oliver! 7.30pm Mon 12 The Ladykillers 7.30pm Tue 13 The Ladykillers 7.30pm SEPTEMBER Wed 14 The Ladykillers 7.30pm Tue 1 Oliver! 7.30pm Thu 15 The Ladykillers 2.30pm & 7.30pm Wed 2 Oliver!

2.30pm & 7.30pm Fri 16 The Ladykillers 7.30pm Thu 3 Oliver! 7.30pm Sat 17 The Ladykillers 2.30pm & 7.30pm Fri 4 Oliver! 7.30pm MAY Wed 20 Book Club: John Julius Norwich 1.30pm

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British Sign Language

Audio Described

Touch Tour

Friends Meet the Cast

Talk Back

Relaxed Performance

Ladykillers 7.30pm Thu 3 Alice in Wonderland 10.30am & 2.30pm Ladykillers 7.30pm Fri 4 Alice in Wonderland 10.30am & 2.30pm Ladykillers 7.30pm Sat 5 Alice in Wonderland 2.30pm & 7pm Ladykillers 2.30pm & 7.30pm Mon 7 Alice in Wonderland 10.30am & 2.30pm Ladykillers 7.30pm Tue 8 Alice in Wonderland 10.30am & 2.30pm Ladykillers 2.30pm & 7.30pm Wed 9 Alice in Wonderland 10.30am & 2.30pm Ladykillers 7.30pm Thu 10 Alice in Wonderland 10.30am & 2.30pm Ladykillers 7.30pm Fri 11 Alice in Wonderland 10.30am & 2.30pm Ladykillers 7.30pm Sat 12 Alice in Wonderland 2.30pm & 7pm Ladykillers 2.30pm & 7.30pm Mon 14 Alice in Wonderland 10.30am & 2.30pm Ladykillers 7.30pm Tue 15 Alice in Wonderland 10.30am & 2.30pm Wed 16 Alice in Wonderland Ladykillers 1.30pm & 6.30pm 10.30am & 2.30pm Thu 17 Alice in Wonderland 10.30am & 2.30pm NOVEMBER Sat 19 Alice in Wonderland 2.30pm & 7pm Mon 2 Macbeth 7.30pm Sun 20 Alice in Wonderland 1pm & 5pm Tue 3 Macbeth 7.30pm Mon 21 Alice in Wonderland 2.30pm & 7pm Wed 4 Macbeth 2.30pm & 7.30pm Tue 22 Alice in Wonderland 2.30pm & 7pm Thu 5 Macbeth 2.30pm & 7.30pm Wed 23 Alice in Wonderland 2.30pm & 7pm Fri 6 Macbeth 7.30pm Thu 24 Alice in Wonderland 10.30am & 2.30pm Sat 7 Macbeth 6.30pm Sat 26 Alice in Wonderland 2.30pm & 7pm Wed 11 Gormenghast 7.30pm Sun 27 Alice in Wonderland 1pm & 5pm Thu 12 Gormenghast 7.30pm Mon 28 Alice in Wonderland 2.30pm & 7pm Fri 13 Gormenghast 7.30pm Tue 29 Alice in Wonderland 2.30pm & 7pm Sat 14 Gormenghast 6.30pm Wed 30 Alice in Wonderland 2.30pm & 7pm Thu 19 Alice in Wonderland 10.30am & 7pm Thu 31 Alice in Wonderland 1pm & 5pm Fri 20 Alice in Wonderland 10.30am & 2.30pm JANUARY Sat 21 Alice in Wonderland 2.30pm & 7pm Mon 23 Alice in Wonderland 10.30am & 2.30pm Sat 2 Alice in Wonderland 2.30pm & 7pm Tue 24 Alice in Wonderland 10.30am & 2.30pm Sun 3 Alice in Wonderland 1pm & 5pm Wed 25 Alice in Wonderland 10.30am & 2.30pm Thu 26 Alice in Wonderland 10.30am & 2.30pm Tell Me On A Sunday Fri 27 Alice in Wonderland 10.30am & 2.30pm Thursday 28 January to Saturday 20 February Sat 28 Alice in Wonderland 2.30pm & 7pm Booking opens Mon 30 Alice in Wonderland 10.30am & 6.30pm Monday 7 September at 10am Mon 19 Tue 20 Wed 21 Thu 22 Fri 23 Sat 24 Mon 26 Tue 27 Wed 28 Thu 29 Fri 30 Sat 31

The The The The The The The The The The The The

DECEMBER 2015 Tue 1 Alice in Wonderland 10.30am & 2.30pm Book Club: Prof Douglas-Fairhurst 7pm Tue 1 Wed 2 Alice in Wonderland 10.30am & 2.30pm

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How To Find Us From the M4 and the north From the M4, junction 13 (or A34 from Oxford), follow signs for Winchester and Southampton (A34). Ignoring the first turning signposted Newbury, turn off at the next junction signposted Newbury, Hungerford (Donnington, Speen) and take the first exit at the roundabout. Turn left at The Hare and Hounds public house (brown sign post for The Watermill Theatre), turn left at the end of road and next right into the village of Bagnor and left at the sign for The Watermill.

From the A34 and the south From the A34 (Winchester and Southampton), follow signs for Oxford (A34). Ignoring the first two junctions signposted Newbury, turn off at the third junction signposted Newbury, Hungerford (Donnington, Speen) and take the first exit at the roundabout, then straight over the second roundabout. Follow the instructions from the Hare and Hounds public house above.

Car Parking Please be aware that car parking space is limited. Please car-share whenever possible and help reduce the impact on the environment too.

Bicycle Rack A rack is available for bikes to park alongside the restaurant.

By bus Newbury Buses, service 4, out and return runs every two hours, Monday to Saturday from Newbury bus station to Station Road, Speen, approximately 20 minutes walk to The Watermill. The last bus to central Newbury leaves Station Road at 20.35.

By train An hour from London Paddington to Newbury station. Taxi rank at Newbury station.

Contact Us The Watermill Theatre & Restaurant, Bagnor, Newbury, Berkshire RG20 8AE Administration 01635 45834 Facsimile 01635 523726 Email admin@watermill.org.uk

www.watermill.org.uk Box Office 01635 46044 The plastic wrapping which enclosed this brochure along with the brochure can be recycled.

Designed and printed by kdp 01635 299507 Photographs and images

Jon Bonner, Christopher Burke, KDP, Ade Morris, Camilla Panufink, Philip Tull and Michael Wharley. Š The Watermill Theatre, 2015 All details in this brochure were correct at the time of going to press. The Watermill Theatre Ltd. reserves the right to make alterations where necessary.