The Watermill Theatre has released first look production images for its summer musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, now playing in Newbury until 13 September 2026.
Directed by Artistic Director Paul Hart, the production opened on 26 May, with a national press night held on 4 June.
Described as a fantasmagorical reimagining of the beloved story, the show follows inventor Caractacus Potts and his children as they embark on a magical adventure alongside Truly Scrumptious in their extraordinary flying car.
The cast includes Christian Edwards as Caractacus Potts, Lydia Louise making her professional debut as Truly Scrumptious, Mark Curry as Grandpa Potts, and Susannah van den Berg as the Childcatcher.
They are joined by Samuel Morgan-Grahame as Baron Bomburst, Mairi Ikegami as Baroness Bomburst, Sam Pay as Boris and Lord Scrumptious, Alexander Zane as Goran, Reuben Greeph as the Toymaker, and Theo Diedrick as Coggins.
The production features an ensemble of actor-musicians, including Tasha Chu, Sameer Dhanjee, Georgie Hales, Javai James, Maya Khatri Chhetri, and Josh Rosewood.
The roles of Jeremy and Jemima are shared by young performers, alongside a large children’s ensemble appearing as the Children of Vulgaria.
Paul Hart said, “We’re absolutely thrilled to announce full casting for this summer’s brand-new production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I know we say this every year, but this really is our most ambitious one to date! Following on from our shows in recent years, we’ll be taking over the entire site to bring you the Watermill’s unique take on this iconic musical. This will include the back lawn becoming a fair ground in which Me Ol’ Bamboo will take place in a tent outside. The designs for the car are also looking absolutely incredible!”
He added, “We have had an epic time casting this massive piece, meeting incredible actor-musicians and building a wonderful ensemble. As part of this, we’ve met hundreds of talented young people from across the region who will be the absolute heartbeat of this show. We’ve also met an incredible array of recent graduates and have offered five ensemble roles to talented individuals for whom this will be one of their first professional roles. All of which has fed into creating a really special group of people, onstage and off, who will be bringing this magical show to life.”
Featuring music and lyrics by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman, the production includes classic songs such as Truly Scrumptious, Hushabye Mountain, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, performed live by the cast.
Following a run of acclaimed summer productions, the Watermill once again transforms its theatre and gardens into an immersive theatrical world.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
