The Watermill Theatre has announced its programme for its 60th anniversary year, marking the milestone with a season that reflects the venue’s history while looking firmly to the future.
Joint CEOs Paul Hart and Claire Murray revealed a line-up featuring the return of two landmark Watermill productions, a new outdoor staging of an Alan Ayckbourn classic, a reimagined Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, and two new adaptations of bestselling novels.
Opening the anniversary programme from 29 January to 6 March is Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s The Wipers Times, returning to the theatre a decade after its 2016 premiere. Directed by Caroline Leslie, the production celebrates the Watermill’s long-running relationship with the writing duo, whose previous collaborations with the theatre include Spike, A Bunch of Amateurs and The Autobiography of a Cad.
The Watermill Youth Ensemble will follow with a new actor-musician adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream from 11 to 13 March. Adapted and directed by Matty Green, the production also marks 40 years of the theatre’s Youth Theatre programme.
From 19 March to 24 April, Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem returns to the Watermill stage in association with Fiery Angel. Based on Lisa Blair’s acclaimed 2018 production, the revival will be co-directed by Paul Hart and Georgie Staight.
Summer sees the theatre embrace its unique riverside setting with an outdoor production of Alan Ayckbourn’s Way Upstream. Directed by Katie Posner, the production will be staged on and around the River Lambourn, transforming the landscape into the world of Ayckbourn’s darkly comic play.
Paul Hart will also direct a fresh interpretation of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel. Featuring a new orchestral adaptation by Stuart Morley and choreography by Anjali Mehra, the production will incorporate music and dance throughout the theatre and grounds. The creative team will work alongside domestic abuse charity Project Salama as part of the development process.
The autumn season will feature the world premiere of Enigma, adapted by Mike Poulton from Robert Harris’s bestselling thriller. Co-commissioned by Chichester Festival Theatre and directed by Hart, the play follows Bletchley Park codebreaker Tom Jericho as he becomes entangled in a mystery of espionage and betrayal.
The anniversary year concludes with the world premiere of a new adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s Beauty and the Beast. Adapted by Tatty Hennessy and directed by Indiana Lown-Collins, the family production will feature a new folk-inspired score and be suitable for audiences aged four and above.
Paul Hart and Claire Murray said: “In planning for this year, we’ve tried to capture the essence of what is so special about the Watermill’s work, both on and off stage. Both deeply rooted in our community and consistently reaching across the UK and the globe, in 2027 we hope to celebrate the distinctive quality of our work and to continue to connect with audiences, communities, creatives and artists in ways that make an important difference to their lives.
“We hope this season has something for everyone and offers a chance for our entire Watermill community to celebrate the incredible past and exciting future of this unique organisation.”
Alongside the on-stage programme, the anniversary year will introduce a new Community Collective project, bringing together local community groups to create new work with professional theatre-makers. The theatre will also launch its Creative Futures fundraising campaign, aiming to raise £60,000 to support future artistic and community initiatives.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
