Watermill Theatre Announces Spring 2015 Season

The Watermill Theatre is delighted to announce its Spring 2015 Season, with highlights including three world stage premieres; the first adaptation of Agatha Christie's The Secret Adversary, a new musical revue Tuxedo Junction compiled by Simon Slater, and E.H. Gombrich's bestseller A Little History of the World. The Spring 2015 season goes on sale on Monday 10 November at 10am.

Agatha Christie's

The Secret Adversary

A Tommy & Tuppence Thriller

Adapted by Sarah Punshon and Johann Hari

Thursday 12 February to Saturday 21 March 2015

Agatha Christie's 1922 thriller The Secret Adversary will receive its world stage premiere at The Watermill Theatre prior to a six-week national tour. Introducing crime-fighting duo Tommy and Tuppence to the stage for the very first time, The Secret Adversary will be brought to life in a new adaptation by Sarah Punshon and Johann Hari. Tickets go on sale at The Watermill Theatre from 10 November 2014.

The Secret Adversary presents the first new stage adaptation of Christie's work in over a decade. Agatha Christie Limited has chosen the award-winning Watermill Theatre to bring two of Christie's most vibrant characters to life as part of its 125th anniversary celebrations in 2015. With a fresh and inventive theatrical approach, this production promises fast-paced action, shot through with comedy, romance and live music. Tommy and Tuppence are set to be the detective couple on everyone's lips in 2015 when the glamorous pair will also feature in the new BBC television adaptation, Partners in Crime, starring David Walliams and Jessica Raine.

The Secret Adversary is directed by Sarah Punshon and designed by Tom Rogers, with original music and musical arrangements by Alex Silverman, lighting design by Howard Hudson, sound design by David Gregory and movement direction by John Nicholson. The Secret Adversary is presented by The Watermill Theatre in association with Eleanor Lloyd Productions.

LISTINGS

Dates: Thursday 12 February - Saturday 21 March 2015

Performances: Monday - Saturday 7.30pm, Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm

Press Night Night: Monday 16 February, 7.30pm

Tickets: £14.50-26.50

Box Office: 01635 46044 | www.watermill.org.uk

Tuxedo Junction

Compiled by Simon Slater

Tuesday 31 March to Saturday 11 April 2015

All aboard for a toe-tapping ride across America in the company of an eclectic band of musicians. It's the 1940s, Hollywood's booming, gasoline and nylon stockings are rationed, women are wearing their hair in Victory rolls, putting on red lipstick and jitterbugging with GIs. The music scene is booming with swing, jazz, crooners and everything in between and we're on a train heading for... who knows? But wherever we're going, it's going to be one helluva ride!

Following last year's sell-out show The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea, a company of Watermill trade-mark actor-musicians, including Simon Slater and Julian Littman, take us on another musical journey featuring songs of the period including Chatanooga Choo Choo, Take The A Train, You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To and Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby.

Tuxedo Junction is compiled by Simon Slater with musical staging by Lee Lyford.

Simon Slater has composed scores for productions including Constellations (Royal Court, West End and New York) for which he was Olivier Award nominated, 'Tis Pity She's A Whore (The Globe), Arabian Nights, Treasure Island, The Wind in the Willows and James and the Giant Peach (Watermill Theatre), Raving (Hampstead Theatre), Great Expectations(National Tour and West End) and Cannibals (Manchester Royal Exchange).

LISTINGS

Dates: Tuesday 31 March to Saturday 11 April 2015

Performances: Monday - Saturday 7.30pm, Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm
Saturday 11 April - 1.30pm and 6.30pm

Press Night Thursday 2 April, 7.30pm

Tickets: £14.50 - £26.50

Box Office: 01635 46044 | www.watermill.org.uk

Thomas Hardy's

Far From the Madding Crowd

Adapted and directed by Jessica Swale

Thursday 16 April to Saturday 23 May

When Bathsheba Everdene inherits a farm from her father, no-one expects her to take on its management herself. But our spirited young heroine will not be deterred and takes up the mantle with vigour. Yet, whilst she rises impressively to the challenges of sheep farming, it is the trials of the heart that threaten to undo her. Hardy's much loved tale is both a thrilling romance and a joyous celebration of English rural life.

Far From the Madding Crowd is adapted and directed by Jessica Swale, a theatre director, playwright and co-founder of Red Handed Theatre Company. Jessica made her directorial debut at Shakespeare's Globe in 2010 with Bedlam, the first play by a female playwright ever to be staged at the venue. Jessica adapted and directed The Watermill's highly popular production of Sense and Sensibility, with other directing credits including The School for Scandal (Park Theatre), Sleuth (Watermill Theatre), The Busy Body, The Belle's Stratagem (Evening Standard Award nomination) and The Rivals (all at Southwark Playhouse). Jessica's first full length play Blue Stockings premiered at Shakespeare's Globe in August 2013.

"Jessica Swale's first play leaves you astonished" - THE GUARDIAN

"The stage's brightest rising star" - THE INDEPENDENT on Blue Stockings

Far From the Madding Crowd is adapted and directed by Jessica Swale and designed by Philip Engleheart, with lighting design by James Whiteside. Original music is by Catherine Jayes.

LISTINGS

Dates: Thursday 16 April to Saturday 23 May

Performances: Monday - Saturday 7.30pm, Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm
Saturday 23 May - 1.30pm and 6.30pm

Press Night Monday 20 April, 7.30pm

Tickets: £14.50 - £26.50

Box Office: 01635 46044 | www.watermill.org.uk

The Deep Blue Sea

By Terence Rattigan
Thursday 4 June to Saturday 4 July 2015

Hester abandons the security and respectability of life with her distinguished older husband, throwing herself into a passionate affair with former RAF pilot Freddie. His raffish charm wears thin, but Hester remains infatuated. With overpowering feelings for Freddie and with her husband ready to forgive, Hester finds herself caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. Terence Rattigan's 1950s masterpiece portrays the emotional turmoil of a woman defying convention and the destructive power of love.

The Deep Blue Sea is directed by Douglas Rintoul, whose work includes State Red (Hampstead Theatre), All My Sons and Of Mice and Men (Watermill Theatre), 'Twas The Night Before Christmas (Unicorn Theatre), As You Like It (UK and European tour) andTouched for the Very First Time (Trafalgar Studios). He is also the artistic director of international touring company Transport.

LISTINGS

Dates: Thursday 4 June to Saturday 4 July

Performances: Monday - Saturday 7.30pm, Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm

Saturday 4 July - 1.30pm and 6.30pm

Press Night Monday 8 June, 7.30pm

Tickets: £14.50 - £26.50

Box Office: 01635 46044 | www.watermill.org.uk

A Little History Of The World
by Toby Hulse

Tuesday 14 to Saturday 25 July 2015

This new stage adaptation of the international bestseller, available in twenty-five languages, takes us on a whistle-stop tour through the centuries from the big bang to the present day. Discover great works of art, meet colourful historical figures, learn of wars, scientific discoveries and the extraordinary achievements of mankind, and its frailties. Ernst Gombrich takes us with infectious enthusiasm through the fascinating, entertaining and heart-warming story of the world.

A Little History of the World is based on the work by E.H. Gombrich as translated into English by Caroline Mustill. It is directed by Paul Stacey and produced in association with Reading Rep, who join the Watermill Theatre as an associate company in 2015.

This production will also tour to village halls, rural venues and arts centres as part of the Watermill Outreach touring initiative. Watermill Outreach is generously supported by The Dr. Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundation. For a list of tour venues visit www.watermill.org.uk/ontour.

LISTINGS

Dates: Tuesday 14 to Saturday 25 July

Performances: Monday - Saturday 7.30pm, Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm
Saturday 25 July - 1.30pm and 6.30pm

Press Night Thursday 16 July, 7.30pm

Tickets: £16 - £20.00

Box Office: 01635 46044 | www.watermill.org.uk

The Watermill Senior Youth Theatre presents
The Wolves Of Willoughby Chase

By Joan Aiken

Wednesday 25 to Saturday 28 March 2015

It's 1832 and wolves roam freely around a dark and wintry England. Left alone after her parents go abroad, Bonnie and her orphaned cousin Sylvia are looking forward to spending time together in their huge, rambling home, Willoughby Chase. But the arrival of the sinister governess Miss Slighcarp and a mysterious stranger on a train leads them into a frightening series of mysteries. The Senior Youth Theatre brings this classic adventure story to life with its trademark sense of humour and ensemble style.

The Wolves Of Willoughby Chase is adapted for the stage by Russ Tunney and directed by Beth Flintoff. The Watermill Senior Youth Theatre is generously supported by The Dr. Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundation.

LISTINGS

Dates: Wednesday 25 - Saturday 28 March 2015

Performances: Wednesday to Friday 7.30pm, Saturday at 6.30pm
Saturday 28 March - 1.30pm and 6.30pm

Tickets: £6 - £11.50

Box Office: 01635 46044 | www.watermill.org.uk

Primary Schools' Production

Directed by Heidi Bird

Wednesday 8 to Saturday 11 July 2015

The Federation of Rural Primary Schools in West Berkshire again collaborates with The Watermill Theatre in this remarkable project. Featuring over a hundred children from six local village primary schools, this is the performance of a new play, specially written for the children.

The Watermill is a local theatre with a national reputation. From a converted watermill in rural West Berkshire seating just 220 people, The Watermill creates award-winning work that is recognised throughout the UK and abroad, with a bold artistic ambition to present a range of work from Shakespeare, classic plays and new writing to the reimagining of large-scale musicals. Alongside West End and Broadway transfers, and national and international tours, The Watermill also creates productions for small-scale touring, ensuring that those living in rural isolation are able to enjoy high quality theatre on their doorstep. Attracting the very best artists and creative teams, both established and at the early stages of their careers, The Watermill has earned itself a reputation as one of the very best producing theatres in the country.

The Watermill is proud to be a leading force in cultivating the theatre-makers of tomorrow, offering opportunities for professional development to directors, designers, composers, stage management and technical staff. It nurtures a unique sense of community, with acting companies, stage management and creative teams all living and working on site to enable practitioners to develop their craft and learn new skills from the theatre's experienced and passionate in-house team. The Watermill also trains administration staff for careers in the arts from casting to marketing and fundraising, with an extensive outreach programme that offers facilitation roles to those wishing to pursue a career in education and outreach work. Through its numerous development opportunities, The Watermill strives to give confidence and guidance to those starting out, and provide a creative springboard for work on a larger scale.

The Watermill Theatre has been recognised as one of the most welcoming venues in the UK, shortlisted twice in the UK Theatre Awards 'Most Welcoming Theatre' category.

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