The Watermill Theatre's Artistic Director Paul Hart Announces New Season

The Watermill Theatre's Artistic Director, Paul Hart, announces his spring 2018 season which includes an award-winning new musical, the first major revival of a modern classic, a new Shakespeare production from The Watermill Ensemble and three premieres.

The season opens with a revival of Teddy, winner of Best New Musical at the Off West End Awards in 2016. The ultimate story of teenage rebellion and the birth of a new musical era, Teddy is written by Tristan Bernays, with music by Dougal Irvine. An on-stage band will perform a combination of original songs and well-known hits from the 1950s. Teddy will be directed by Eleanor Rhode with musical direction by Harrison White. It is produced by Sarah Loader for Snapdragon Productions in association with The Watermill Theatre and runs at The Watermill from 11 January to 10 February before touring. Teddy will transfer to The Vaults, Waterloo from Thursday 29 March to Sunday 6 May.

A new adaptation of The Rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan runs from 15 March to 21 April. The classic comedy of desire, intrigue and romantic delusion, takes place over the course of one day. Adapted by Beth Flintoff this fresh, funny and fast-moving new version will be staged in the round and directed by Jonathan Humphreys whose previous credits include The Mighty Walzer (Manchester Royal Exchange) and Romeo and Juliet (Sheffield Crucible).

The story of the infamous opportunists William Burke and William Hare is brought to the stage in a new black comedy, Burke and Hare that is as hysterical as it is historical. In Edinburgh, the leading city for medical research, there's a huge demand for bodies and an inconveniently low number of deaths. The murderous pair come up with a profitable solution. This new version by Tom Wentworth is directed by Abigail Pickard Price. It was originally created by Jenny Wren Productions. Burke and Hare runs at The Watermill from 24 April to 5 May and then tours to village halls and arts centres. The Sackler Trust are Principal Supporter of Watermill rural touring.

Paul Hart will direct The Watermill Ensemble in A Midsummer Night's Dream from 10 May to 16 June. Following the success of Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet's recent national tour, the Ensemble once again fuses actor-musicianship with Shakespeare. Inspired by the rich and soulful sounds of Nina Simone and Billie Holiday, secrets, love and mistaken identities collide in one of Shakespeare's greatest comedies.

The first major revival of Jez Butterworth's multi award-winning, West End and Broadway hit, Jerusalem will be directed by Lisa Blair and runs from 21 June to 21 July. The raucous and earthy contemporary classic, with the anarchic Johnny 'Rooster' Byron at its heart, paints a rebellious alternative vision of the idyllic English countryside.

The Watermill's resident playwright, Danielle Pearson's new play, Digging For Victory will be performed by the theatre's Senior Youth Theatre from 7 to 10 March. It is directed by The Watermill's Outreach Director, Heidi Bird.

Launching the season Paul Hart said: 'I'm delighted to introduce our 2018 season, which further cements The Watermill's reputation for producing theatre of national import in our small, rural idyll. The new season includes three premieres of new work and Jerusalem - a great opportunity to experience Jez Butterworth's contemporary masterpiece in the perfect setting! A Midsummer Night's Dream performed by our newly-formed resident Ensemble, brilliantly illustrates our commitment to encouraging and supporting new talent. And as we launch the national tour and transfer of Teddy, we continue to work with the UK's finest directors, creatives and performers.'

Continuing its commitment to making its work accessible to all, The Watermill is extending its £10 tickets for 16 to 25 year olds scheme to all performances of main house shows. It is also staging its sixth integrated signed performance during the run of A Midsummer Night's Dream. On 13 June at 7.30pm and 16 June at 1.30pm the Watermill Ensemble will be joined on stage by two additional members of cast, Lixi Chivas, the theatre's resident BSL signer, and Ana Becker who will both be involved in the rehearsal process. The theatre has also expanded the number of productions that will be audio described with accompanying touch tours.

Thursday 11 January to Saturday 10 February
Sarah Loader for Snapdragon Productions
in association with The Watermill Theatre present

TEDDY
By Tristan Bernays
Music by Dougal Irvine
Directed by Eleanor Rhode

Elephant and Castle, London. 1956. Saturday night.

Teddy and Josie are about to hit the streets of London for a good time. Hair quiffed. Red lipstick. Dressed toe to head in the latest threads. So what if it's pouring down, they're totally skint, and someone wants them dead? A little trouble never stopped a Ted from having a good time. Desperate times call for rock 'n' roll.

From the writer - director team behind Boudica at the Globe and Frankenstein at The Watermill Theatre comes Teddy, an award-winning, punchy new musical that races through the dark and damaged world of post-war London: a brand new Britain bombed to bits by the Blitz, belts tight with austerity, but ripe and ready for revolution.

With electrifying original songs plus some of the hugest hits from the 1950s performed live on stage by Johnny Valentine and the Broken Hearts, Teddy is the ultimate story of teenage rebellion and the birth of a new musical era. Bursting with the energy of a live gig, this is theatre that leaves you on a high and jiving all the way home.

LISTINGS

Dates: Thursday 11 January to Saturday 10 February

Press night: Monday 15 January at 7.30pm

Performances: Monday - Saturday 7.30pm, Thursday & Saturday 2.30pmLast Saturday performances at 1.30pm and 6.30pmTickets: from £15 - £26.50.

Audio Described Performance and Touch Tour: 1.30pm Saturday 10 February. TT at 12 noon.

Please note this production contains strong language

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

Wednesday 7 to Saturday 10 March

The Watermill Senior Youth Theatre presents

DIGGING FOR VICTORY

By Danielle Pearson

Directed by Heidi Bird

When sisters Joyce, Beryl and Vera Linnet arrive at Nott's Farm in Kent to join the Women's Land Army, they hope to find some respite from the danger and chaos of wartime London. But when their fellow Land Girl Mabel goes missing, leaving behind only a series of coded clues, it's clear that all is not as it seems in the sleepy village of Witherington. Led by Joyce, with her insatiable appetite for mystery novels, the sisters vow to dig for the truth. But can they solve the code in time? And as they investigate the inhabitants of Nott's Farm, what secrets of their own will be brought to light?

The Sackler Trust, Principal Supporter of The Senior Youth Theatre

LISTINGS

Dates: Wednesday 7 to Saturday 10 March

Press night: Thursday 8 March at 7.30pm

Performances: Wednesday - Friday 7.30pm, Saturday at 6.30pm

Tickets: £12 and £11.50, concessions £7 and £6.50

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

Thursday 15 March to Saturday 21 April

THE RIVALS
By Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Adapted by Beth Flintoff
Directed by Jonathan Humphreys

Bath 1775.

Lydia Languish is passionately in love with a dashing but penniless soldier with whom she plans to elope. Mrs Malaprop, her guardian, commands she 'illiterate him' from her memory and marry the rich and handsome son of a friend who is 'the very pineapple of politeness'. Little do they realise that both poor Beverley and the wealthy Captain Absolute are one and the same young man. Cue confusion, romance, misunderstanding and a twilight duel.

Taking place over one hilarious day, this classic comedy of desire, intrigue and romantic delusion, bursts onto The Watermill stage. An energetic ensemble perform a fresh, funny and fast-moving new version in the round directed by Jonathan Humphreys whose previous credits include The Mighty Walzer (Manchester Royal Exchange) and Romeo and Juliet (Sheffield Crucible).

Principal Sponsor: Heritage Financial Advisers

LISTINGS

Dates: Thursday 15 March to Saturday 21 April

Press night: Monday 19 March at 7.30pm

Performances: Monday - Saturday 7.30pm, Thursday & Saturday 2.30pmLast Saturday performances at 1.30pm and 6.30pmTickets: from £15 - £26.50.

Audio Described Performance and Touch Tour: 1.30pm Saturday 21 April. TT at 12 noon.

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

Tuesday 24 April to Saturday 5 May

BURKE AND HARE

A new version by Tom Wentworth
Originally created by Jenny Wren Productions
Directed by Abigail Pickard Price

1828, Edinburgh.

Two Williams, William Burke and William Hare, discover a money-making scheme far more lucrative than hosting lodgers. The first rule of business? Supply and demand. In the leading city for medical research, there's a huge demand for bodies and an inconveniently low number of deaths. The profitable solution? Murder, of course.

As the infamous pair flourish in their new-found careers, the more they murder, the less they care but for how long will they get away with it? In a new black comedy that is as hysterical as it is historical, three actors tell the true story of the prolific duo.

Burke and Hare is also touring to village halls, rural venues and arts centres. A list of venues is to be announced.

The Sackler Trust, Principal Supporter of Watermill Rural Touring

LISTINGS

Dates: Tuesday 24 April to Saturday 5 May

Press night: Wednesday 25 April at 7.30pm

Performances: Monday - Saturday 7.30pm, Thursday & Saturday 2.30pmLast Saturday performances at 1.30pm and 6.30pmTickets: from £15.50 - £20

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

Thursday 10 May to Saturday 16 June

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Paul Hart

Pity the fool who falls in love...

Following the great success of last year's Twelfth Night and Romeo + Juliet, The Watermill Ensemble return with A Midsummer Night's Dream, fusing actor-musicianship with one of Shakespeare's greatest comedies.

Four lovers escape the decorum of the royal courts, eluding tradition and etiquette on one fateful, intoxicating night in the Athenian woods.

Secrets, love and mistaken identities collide with a fusion of rich and beautiful music inspired by the hedonistic soulful sounds of Nina Simone and Billie Holiday.

Hermia is to be married to Demetrius but she actually loves Lysander and after the lovers runaway to marry in secret, pursued by Demetrius, who has been told by Helena of their plan, all respectability begins to unravel.

Enter an enchanted world of dreams and passion, where the powerful spirits of a midsummer's night will put a spell on you.

Principal Sponsor: Sheepdrove Organic Farm and Eco-Conference Centre

LISTINGS

Dates: Thursday 10 May to Saturday 16 June

Press night: Monday 14 May at 7.30pm

Performances: Monday - Saturday 7.30pm, Thursday & Saturday 2.30pmLast Saturday performances at 1.30pm and 6.30pmTickets: from £15 to £26.50

Sign integrated performance: Wednesday 13 June, 7.30pm and Saturday 16 June, 1.30pm.

Audio Described Performance and Touch Tour: 2.30pm Saturday 19 May. TT at 1pm.

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

Thursday 21 June to Saturday 21 July

JERUSALEM
By Jez Butterworth
Directed by Lisa Blair

England's green and pleasant land.

St George's Day. It's the day of the Flintlock Fair and the day Kennet and Avon Council want to see the back of Johnny 'Rooster' Byron for good. The new estate want the maverick local boy evicted, but Johnny has other plans.

At his ramshackle caravan kingdom,the charismatic hell raiser entertains his band of 'undesirable' scallywags with outlandish tales, unbelievable antics and an ample supply of booze and drugs. Infamous for holding the most riotous parties this side of the Wiltshire border, Johnny is a hero to many but a villainto others. Pursued by the authorities, threatened by the local thug and reprimanded by his ex, Johnny is not a man to be beaten down.

Inciting his own special brew of anarchy, Johnny fights against the hypocrisy of modern suburban life and embodies the spirit of England's legendary giants of myth. A raucous, earthy contemporary classic, Jerusalem paints a rebellious alternative vision of the idyllic English countryside.

Following enormous success in the West End and Broadway, Jez Butterworth's startling, multi award-winning play is brought to life in its first major revival since its London premiere.

LISTINGS

Dates: Thursday 21 June to Saturday 21 July

Press night: Monday 25 June at 7.30pm

Performances: Monday - Saturday 7.30pm, Thursday & Saturday 2.30pmLast Saturday performances at 1.30pm and 6.30pmTickets: from £15 - £26.50.

Audio Described Performance and Touch Tour: 2.30pm Saturday 30 June. TT at 1pm.

This production contains especially strong language throughout. Age guidance 16 and upwards. Parental discretion advised. Box Office: 01635 46044 | www.watermill.org.uk

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