The Watermill Theatre

The Watermill Theatre

Created from a 19th century corn mill tucked away in the heart of the Berkshire countryside. The Watermill aims to be a focal point for our community.

Each year, The Watermill mounts some 12 new productions, with work ranging from Shakespeare to musicals and classics to new plays.The Watermill's work is also seen on our extensive tours that visit theatres around the UK and abroad as well as work created for smaller scale village halls and rural arts centres. We run a flourishing youth theatre, holiday courses for young people, workshops in schools plus a wide range of community activities for all ages.

Photos from The Watermill Theatre's post 29/09/2024

“I wanted to write a play about female family dynamics that celebrates the fun and interrogates the friction those relationships bring. I also wanted to explore heritage and how three generations in the same family connect with their own stories, inspired by my Guyanese grandmother and our own hand-me-down history. Jerome K. Jerome’s romp of a novel has provided me with the perfect backdrop for the characters to muse and meander - if you’re a die-hard fan of the book then sorry I got rid of all the men! I’m so excited to see the play come to life on stage.” Camille Ucan

Lovingly inspired by Jerome K. Jerome’s ‘Three Men in a Boat’, Camille Ucan’s new heartfelt comedy opens at the Watermill on next year.

22 May - 7 Jun
🎟 watermill.org.uk/three-hens

28/09/2024

⚠Final tickets remaining⚠

There is still time to join us for another night of hilarious stand-up comedy next Sunday.
We have an amazing line-up including the incredible Paul Sinha, with Kate Martin and Mike Cox, along with your host Matt Richardson.

Snap your tickets up now before it's too late!

6 Oct
🎟 watermill.org.uk/comedy-october

27/09/2024

“We’re thrilled to be bringing Simon Reade’s adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s artfully told, funny and anarchic story of our favourite puppet boy Pinocchio to life. We’re excited for audiences to join us on an adventure into a magical world where things aren’t always what they seem.” - Pinocchio Co-Directors Elle While and Indiana Lown-Collins.

Book now to join us this Christmas when we welcome the most famous puppet in the world to the Watermill!

15 Nov - 5 Jan
🎟 watermill.org.uk/pinocchio

Photos from The Watermill Theatre's post 26/09/2024

A huge thank you to our friends at Vodafone UK who volunteered with us yesterday.

We now have beautiful planters outside our studio, much needed storage in our wardrobe and props department, and the most glamourous ducks in town!

Support from local businesses is incredibly important and helps us to keep on delivering brilliant work on stage and with our local community.

Interested in bringing your company to volunteer at the Watermill? Email our development team who can help get your ducks in a row and plan a visit. 🦆🦆🦆

📧 [email protected]

25/09/2024

The reviews are in and The King's Speech is a hit!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Don't miss our 'WONDERFUL REVIVAL' which is now playing until 2 Nov.

🎟️ watermill.org.uk/the-kings-speech
📷 Alex Brenner

25/09/2024

Priority booking for our Spring 2025 Season is now open to our Friends & Reeds members.

Why not join them and book for these fantastic shows straight away, with memberships starting at £35 for the year.

Join today - watermill.org.uk/membership
Check out our new season - watermill.org.uk/

Photos from The Watermill Theatre's post 24/09/2024

It's press night for The King's Speech! 👑
Take a look at these stunning photos of our incredible cast.

Until 2 Nov
🎟 watermill.org.uk/the-kings-speech
📸 Alex Brenner

23/09/2024

We are delighted to introduce our four Elemental Artists who will take part in our new talent development programme this year!

The successful artists were chosen from over 150 applicants and include lighting designer Nicola Crawford, sound designer Pierre Flasse, Jacob Wu, a theatre designer and scenographer and director and writer Tyler Holland, who has been part of the creative team of The King's Speech as Assistant Director.

Interested in becoming an Elemental Artist? Keep an eye out in Spring 2025, when our next round of applications will open.

watermill.org.uk/elemental-artists

22/09/2024

You are about to get up close and personal with some of the most important historical figures of the 1930s!

Watch The King's Speech cast introduce us to some of the characters they are portraying on the Watermill stage.

'Duty-bound...Eccentric...Churchillian'...we can't wait!

Until 2 Nov
🎟 watermill.org.uk/the-kings-speech

Photos from The Watermill Theatre's post 21/09/2024

“I'm very much looking forward to being back at the Watermill and getting my teeth stuck into this tremendous project” Audrey Brisson

And we are as excited as Audrey is about her returning to the Watermill for Piaf next April!

It's going to be wonderful to welcome her back following her Olivier Award nominated performance in Amélie in 2019.

4 Apr - 17 May
🎟watermill.org.uk/piaf
📸 Amelie production photography by Pamela Raith

20/09/2024

It’s the first preview of The King's Speech! 👑

We can't wait to welcome audiences back for our first performance tonight.

Until 2 Nov
🎟️ watermill.org.uk/the-kings-speech

19/09/2024

We're really looking forward to our next Youth Ensemble production Emil and the Detectives. Youth Ensemble places are offered to our Youth Theatre members, and applications are open now!

If you'd like to get involved, contact [email protected] to find out more.

18/09/2024

Our members are now enjoying pre-priority booking for our Spring 2025 season.

Become a member to book the best seats at the best prices & feel great about supporting our work.

Join here watermill.org.uk/membership
Check out our new season watermill.org.uk/

17/09/2024

🚨New trailer alert🚨

'You will feel like you are in that room'

Take a look at our new trailer for The King's Speech 👑 which opens this Friday!

20 Sep - 2 Nov
🎟️ watermill.org.uk/the-kings-speech
🎥 Alex Ryland-Jones

Photos from The Watermill Theatre's post 16/09/2024

This Christmas, we are welcoming the world’s most famous puppet to the Watermill in our brand-new musical adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's Pinocchio by Pinocchio!

Co-directed by Elle While and Indiana Lown-Collins, this beloved children’s novel will be adapted for the stage by Simon Reade, with music & lyrics by Chris Larner.

We can't wait to welcome you for this story full of courage, heart and a sprinkling of magic! ✨

15 Nov - 5 Jan
🎟️ watermill.org.uk/pinocchio

14/09/2024

Our 2025 Spring Season includes a range of fantastic workshops & events including our ever-popular Scratch Choir.

Plus, our annual Farmers Market will take place in May for all your artisanal food & drink needs! 🍞🍺

Event info 👉 watermill.org.uk/
Priority booking opens 18 Sep

13/09/2024

“We are thrilled to be returning to the Watermill Theatre with our new play, The Autobiography of a Cad. The Watermill has been an enthusiastic supporter of new writing, and this is our fifth play for the theatre, after A Bunch of Amateurs, The Wipers Times, Trial By Laughter and Spike"

We are very much looking forward to welcoming Ian Hislop and Nick Newman back to the Watermill next year for their adaptation of A.G. Macdonell's satirical masterpiece!

7 Feb - 22 Mar 2025
watermill.org.uk/cad

12/09/2024

Did you know, as a big thank you for their support, our members receive priority booking for all of our shows and events, ensuring they can book their favourite seats at the best prices, every time. Pre-priority for our exciting new Spring season opens on 18 Sep, and Priority booking on 25 Sep.

Memberships start at £35 for the year - sign up now to support us.

Join today - watermill.org.uk/membership

11/09/2024

This is not a drill...there is just one more week until our tastiest fundraiser ever! 🧀🍷

If you fancy sampling the best cheese & wine pairings, whilst hearing entertaining insights into the world of cheesemaking, cheese judging and cheese-mongering, then grab your place today.

You'd be crackers not to come!

18 SEP
🎟 watermill.org.uk/cheese-and-wine-tasting

Photos from The Watermill Theatre's post 10/09/2024

Inside The King's Speech 👑 rehearsal room

Take a look at this incredible cast in action as they prepare to bring this touching and uplifting play to the Watermill stage from next week!

20 Sep - 2 Nov
🎟️ watermill.org.uk/the-kings-speech
📸Alex Brenner

09/09/2024

Are you interested in what makes a performance accessible to all, how we plan a session for young people and how best to share our work with the world?

This exciting traineeship is part of our Careers in the Arts Project and will work with our outreach team to help engage our local community, contribute to our access programme, whilst working with our marketing team to promote and celebrate this work whilst widening its reach.

Community Access Traineeship
Apply by 23 Sep
Find out more and how to apply here - watermill.org.uk/jobs

08/09/2024

It's time to say a fond farewell to our magical Barnum superstars! 🎪

A huge thank you to the cast, creative team and crew for bringing the magic of Barnum's circus to the Watermill and to everyone who came and followed the band with us.

We can't wait to welcome you back soon, but for now...to the egress!

07/09/2024

Are you aged 16-30 and love theatre?

You'll be excited to hear that we have launched an exciting new FREE scheme where you can get tickets for Watermill shows for just £10!

Find out how to join here - watermill.org.uk/beginners

06/09/2024

As we reach the final few days of Barnum, we thought we should raise a toast to the couple at the heart of the show...Mr & Mrs Barnum!

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Our Story

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.

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.

Videos (show all)

The King's Speech reviews
Meet our Elemental artists
The King's Speech characters
The King's Speech rehearsal trailer
2025 Spring events at the Watermill
Mr and Mrs Barnum
We're ready to spill the tea... ☕ 2025: Watermill legends return, new writing, a detective adventure, a French icon, com...
The King's Speech costumes
Barnum trailer
The King's Speech - introducing the cast

Category

Telephone

Address


The Watermill Theatre, Bagnor
Newbury
RG208AE

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 6:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 6:30pm
Thursday 9am - 6:30pm
Friday 10am - 6:30pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm

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