Billy Postlethwaite Leads The Cast Of Watermill Ensemble's Shakespeare Autumn Tour

The Watermill Theatre has announced the casting for the autumn tour of its highly acclaimed productions of Shakespeare's Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Billy Postlethwaite will revive his performance of Macbeth in Paul Hart's production, which premiered at The Watermill Theatre earlier this year and will play Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Postlethwaite, whose credits include Chernobyl (HBO/Sky) and Game Of Thrones (HBO), Stanhope in Journey's End for The Watermill, The Madness of King George (Nottingham Playhouse), will be joined by Emma McDonald as Lady Macbeth and Titania / Hippolyta, Peter Mooney as Donalbain and Quince, Offue Okegbe as Lennox and Theseus, Mike Slader as Macduff and Demetrius, Molly Chesworth as Malcolm and Puck, Robyn Sinclair as Banquo and Helena, Emma Barclay as Lady Macduff and Bottom, Jamie Satterthwaite as Duncan and Oberon and Lucy Keirl as Fleance / Porter and Hermia.

The six-week tour begins at Northern Stage Newcastle on 11th September and culminates at Theatre Royal Norwich on 19th October. Playing side-by-side, Artistic Director Paul Hart's visceral actor-musician led productions are presented by the Newbury based theatre's celebrated resident Shakespeare company, The Watermill Ensemble, whose previous successes have also included Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth Night.

Hart's magical production of A Midsummer Night's Dream received rave reviews when it premiered at the theatre. The Stage described it as "fizzing with charm and humour" and What's On Stage hailed it as "an evening of magical delight". This staging of Shakespeare's most popular play employs the hedonistic soulful sounds of Nina Simone and Billie Holiday as an intoxicating backdrop to the story of four lovers who throw off the decorum of the royal courts, for on one fateful magic-filled night in the enchanted Athenian woods.

Macbeth, which played at the Watermill Theatre in March this year, was described by The Guardian as "dazzling" and "a show that burns with purpose, passion and energy to spare". This blood-soaked tale of the "butcher and his fiendlike queen" is set against the electrifying soundtrack of Jonny Cash and The Rolling Stones performed live by an accomplished cast of actor-musicians.

The Watermill Theatre's Artistic Director Paul Hart says, "The aim is to create new Shakespeare productions that excite and engage audiences of all ages and walks of life. To be taking this work from The Watermill to these major theatres across the country is incredibly exciting. It's a great opportunity for us to share our unique style of work that combines Shakespeare's astonishing language with physical theatre and live music to create bold new versions of these great plays. I'm thrilled to have so many of the ensemble return as well a number of new actors who have recently performed on the Watermill stage. It allows us to keep on breathing new life into Shakespeare's words."

Formed in 2017, The Watermill Ensemble is a company of multi-talented performers, including accomplished actor- musicians, with a 50:50 gender split. Its aim is to combine Shakespeare's texts and live music to create new versions of the plays, which will tour. It also forms part of The Watermill's education programme.

The Watermill Theatre has developed a reputation as one of Britain's leading regional theatres. From its beautiful home in a small Berkshire village, work has been created that is admired around the world. Over 73,000 people attend shows or attend one-off events at The Watermill each year, where some 12 new productions are staged annually, ranging from Shakespeare and musicals to classics, new plays and youth theatre productions. The Watermill tours regularly across the UK as well as rural touring productions, which play in village halls and small arts centres in the South. Recent and upcoming tours and London transfers have included Amélie (National Tour), Twelfth Night (Wilton's Music Hall), Burke and Hare (Jermyn Street Theatre), Trial By Laughter (National Tour), Teddy (National Tour and The Vaults), Crazy For You (National Tour), The Wipers Times (West End and Tour), Loot (Park Theatre), Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet (International Tours), Murder For Two (The Other Palace) and Frankenstein (Wilton's Music Hall).

The Watermill Theatre aims to be a focal point for the local community and is proud to play a leading part in helping the careers of the theatre-makers of tomorrow. The Watermill's unique environment encourages a real sense of ensemble, and its intimate 200-seat auditorium also means that there is a particularly strong connection between the actors and audience. This combination makes The Watermill a very special place to visit.

Performance Dates and Venues

Northern Stage, Newcastle
(A Midsummer Night's Dream)
Wednesday 11th - Saturday 14th September
https://www.northernstage.co.uk

Oxford Playhouse
(Macbeth)
Tuesday 17th - Saturday 21st September
https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/

The Lighthouse - Poole
(Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream)
Tuesday 24th - Saturday 28th September
https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

Everyman Theatre - Cheltenham
(Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream)
Tuesday 1st - Saturday 5th October
https://www.everymantheatre.org.uk

New Theatre - Cardiff
(Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream)
Tuesday 8th - Saturday 12th October
https://www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

Theatre Royal - Norwich
(Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream)
Tuesday 15th - Saturday 19th October
https://www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk/Online/

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