The Watermill Theatre Announces New Season Including UK Premiere Of AMELIE

The Watermill Theatre's new season, announced today by Artistic Director, Paul Hart, includes the UK premiere of AMÉLIE, a new production of Shakespeare's MACBETH from the Watermill Ensemble, the revival of hit comedy MURDER FOR TWO, a lively adaptation of an Oscar Wilde classic and two premieres. Booking opens on Tuesday 30 October. Friends of The Watermill priority booking is open now.

Hart says: 'We're thrilled to present a season which includes our own unique blend of Shakespeare, musical theatre, new writing and revivals. Alongside current tours of Trial By Laughter and Murder For Two we've had four London transfers this autumn/winter including the upcoming Burke and Hare at Jermyn Street Theatre. Last year we played to 278,000 people on tour as well as to audiences of over 73,000 here at The Watermill.'

The season opens with Murder For Two, a revival of the hit 2017 production which premiered at The Watermill. It is directed by Luke Sheppard, director of Olivier award-winning musical In The Heights. Ed MacArthur and Jeremy Legat will reprise their performances as 'Officer Marcus Moscowicz' and 'The Suspects' respectively in this murder mystery with a twist. Murder For Two is produced in association with Paul Taylor-Mills. The production is currently on a national tour and will be followed by a second London transfer at The Other Palace from 12 December before a 4-week run at The Watermill from 30 January to 23 February.

Paul Hart directs a new Watermill Ensemble production of Macbeth from 28 February to 30 March. In their boldest production to date, The Watermill Ensemble fuse electrifying actor-musicianship with Shakespeare's thrilling tragedy. In times of uncertainty, power is within reach for those with the strength to seize it. Fuelled by greed, ambition and desire, the Macbeths will stop at nothing to survive. Music will be inspired by Johnny Cash, The xx and The Rolling Stones.

The UK premiere of Amélie will open at The Watermill from 11 April to 18 May, directed by Michael Fentiman. Based on the award-winning film written by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Guillaume Laurant, this new musical adaptation has Music by Daniel Messé, Lyrics by Daniel Messé and Nathan Tysen and Book by Craig Lucas. The story of an extraordinary young woman, Amélie's colourful observations and whimsical wonderings bring joy and chaos to those around her as she embarks on a series of small but surprising acts of kindness. Amélie is presented in association with Hartshorn - Hook Productions, Selladoor Worldwide and Asia Broadway Company.

A new production of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest will play from 23 May to 29 June. The identity of Jack Worthing has been an enigma ever since he was discovered as a baby in a handbag in the lost property cloakroom at Victoria Station. When a marriage proposal sets a sequence of ridiculous events in motion, Jack's past threatens to catch up with him.

J. Meade Falkner's tale of smugglers and shipwrecks, Moonfleet, is adapted by The Watermill's resident playwright Danielle Pearson for the theatre's Senior Youth Theatre from 3 to 6 April. It is directed by The Watermill's Outreach Director, Heidi Bird.

Concluding the season, a new play by Marietta Kirkbride, Our Church explores the impact of the past on the future of a village community. At a critical meeting of the church committee, Tom, a contentious nomination to join the committee, is put forward. Caught with indecent images of children on his computer, Tom has been to prison and is on the sex offenders register. Whilst many of the community can't forgive him, one committee member proposes that Tom is given a second chance. The play explores, from multiple points of view, what it means to live a haunted life. The production will run at The Watermill from 16 to 20 July as well as touring to village halls, rural venues and arts centres.

Other events include a one-off Sunday Session with Johnny Valentine and The Broken Hearts. The onstage band from rock'n'roll musical Teddy by Tristan Bernays, with Music by Dougal Irvine, will perform original music and period classics on 24 March.

Direct from a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe, Watermill Associate Company, Wildcard present Electrolyte on 5 May. A piece of gig theatre that explores mental health through spoken word poetry and original music, Electrolyte won multiple awards at the 2018 Fringe including the Mental Health Fringe Award and the Pleasance Best Newcomer Award.

Continuing its commitment to making its work accessible to all, The Watermill will offer £10 tickets for 16 to 25s to all main house productions. It will stage its tenth integrated signed performance during the run of Macbeth on 20 March and 23 March, as well as a Relaxed Performance on 16 March. There will also be audio described performances for Murder For Two, Macbeth, Amélie and The Importance of Being Earnest.

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