Claudine Nightingale takes a closer look at the output and offerings from this rural theatrical gem.
Nestled away in the West Berkshire countryside, alongside the River Lambourn, is the idyllic location of the Watermill Theatre. A boutique 200-seat venue, it takes its name from the building's original purpose.
History
The theatre building was originally an 1830s corn mill. Converted from a derelict state by its owner David Gollins, it started its theatrical life as a 113-seater amateur theatre. In 1967, it became a professional theatre, and has enjoyed artistic directorship from the likes of David Gilmore, Jill Fraser, Hedda Beeby and, more recently, Paul Hart.
A notable production of Othello (1995), a collaboration between then-artistic director Jill Fraser and Edward Hall, sparked the creation of the award-winning theatre company Propeller, who now tour the world with fresh new interpretations of Shakespeare.
The Watermill is a producing theatre, and in 2024 was awarded the title of Theatre of the Year, jointly with the National Theatre. It regularly has shows that transfer to the West End or tour in the UK or internationally. Recent productions that have succeeded in this way include Calamity Jane, Amelie the Musical, Tell me on a Sunday and Lord of the Rings. The latter production, a musical which they produced in 2023 – and, incidentally, one of the best pieces of theatre I have ever seen – met with particular success, touring to Chicago, Auckland and Australia. The production is due to return to the UK in October 2025.
Outreach
The theatre's outreach programme is substantial, and a key element of its output. It chimes with the Watermill's main aims of both nurturing talent and demonstrating the transformative power of the arts to all, including those in rural and isolated communities, and those with additional needs.
I spoke to Outreach Director Heidi Bird about the many initiatives on offer at the Watermill. ‘We are really closely linked to the main house shows, in terms of access performances,’ explains Heidi, ‘so we do a lot of work to ensure that access services are provided for the community’.
They run a range of youth groups, available to children and young people aged 4 upwards, but they also offer a number of specifically accessible sessions: for example, ‘we have groups for young people who are deaf or have a hearing impairment,’ explained Heidi. This takes the form of a youth theatre with BSL integration. ‘We also have groups for young people who have added complications in their life, whatever they might be,’ continues Heidi, ‘and offer workshops for young people who are neurodivergent. All of our groups are welcoming to everybody, but these groups are adapted in a way that will support what those people might need in a more gentle environment.’
Elemental
‘One of the programmes we're offering at the moment is Elemental,’ explains Heidi. ‘It's a programme nurturing four early-career artists within the industry.’ The scheme operates as a career-development opportunity, helping four artists to develop their expertise, build industry knowledge and engage in their own personal development. It is a paid initiative, which supports one artist from each of the following areas: sound, lighting, set design and directing.
They are contracted to work on one or two shows (depending on the discipline) at the Watermill alongside other artists in their field, and also allocated a mentor within the industry. ‘For example,’ explains Heidi, ‘the current lighting designer is working with Howard Hudson, who is the lighting designer on Starlight Express’.
‘Nurturing is a big part of our ethos – both onstage and offstage,’ says Heidi. ‘These artists [being nurtured by the Elemental programme] also then work with our young people, in order to nurture them.’
Careers in the Arts partnership
‘The other major area of development is a programme we do in partnership with the Corn Exchange, Newbury, funded by Greenham Trust,’ says Heidi. ‘This is our Careers in the Arts programme. It has come out of a real need and desire to plug gaps in the industry.’
‘As an arts venue, we take a huge responsibility in inspiring future generations of young people,’ says Heidi, ‘and not just in performance. It's really about exposing young people to the breadth of work available in the industry.’
Through this programme, they deliver a whole series of workshops and events, including: open days, careers fairs, ‘young creatives’ sessions for those interested in set and lighting design, costume etc., work experience opportunities throughout the year, and workshops in schools.
Actor musicianship
The Watermill is very unusual in its commitment to promoting actor-musicianship in nearly all of its productions. This is a key USP for the theatre, and is supported through their outreach work.
‘We have, last year, just started our first ever actor-musician group for young people, which has gone really well,’ explains Heidi. ‘I wish I could play you some of the music: they composed their own songs – music and lyrics. It's amazing; the young people absolutely loved it.’
Authentic insight
I ask Heidi what she thinks makes the outreach work at the Watermill so special. ‘We are a producing theatre,’ she explains, ‘and we have our actors and directors living on site, which is unique to the Watermill. This means we have unprecedented access to high quality facilitators, whose quality matches what we're putting on stage. Young people and adults using our outreach offerings are getting a real, authentic insight into the industry.’