The Watermill Theatre have announced details of the shows that will play at the theatre from May 2022, all the way through until Christmas. 

The new season opens with the world premiere of Bleak Expectations, a new stage adaptation of the hit BBC Radio 4 comedy written by Mark Evans and directed by Caroline Leslie, running from 27 May-2 July.

It is followed by the world premiere of Camp Albion, a new play by Danielle Pearson, directed by Georgie Staight and designed by Isobel Nicolson. Camp Albion is a play about environmental activism and the 1996 ‘Battle of Newbury’, which will tour to towns and villages across the region  from 15 June, and run at The Watermill from 6-16 July.

The first major UK revival of Whistle Down The Wind will play at The Watermill from 22 July-10 September. Directed by Tom Jackson Greaves, the musical will feature a company of actor musicians alongside a cast of talented local young people.

The Watermill Ensemble will present Shakespeare’s Othello from 16 September-15 October. Directed by Artistic Director Paul Hart and Anjali Mehra, The Watermill Ensemble will weave live music into this powerful and bold new adaptation.

A brand-new stage adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s The Sleeping Sword by Tatty Hennessy will run at The Watermill from 27 October-5 November, and will also tour to local schools from 8 November. Directed by Lucy Jane Atkinson, The Sleeping Sword weaves a contemporary tale of self-discovery with the ancient legend of King Arthur. The show will have creative access at the heart of it, working with a team of sighted and visually impaired artists, and every performance will feature the use of creative captioning and integrated audio description.

The Watermill’s Christmas production will be Rapunzel, directed by Lucy Betts. Originally created for Kneehigh in 2006, Annie Siddons’ adaptation, a play with music, will be reworked for audiences at The Watermill this Christmas, playing from 18 November-1 January.

For more information and to book tickets, please click here.