A new actor/musician production of As You Like It and a semi-staged concert version of Stiles and Drewe’s Just So will feature in the Watermill Theatre’s summer season of outdoor performances.
Following on from last year’s sold-out season that included a special concert performance of Lerner and Loewe’s Camelot, the al fresco entertainment will return from 21 May with an encore run for the popular three-hander production of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes gothic chiller The Hound of the Baskervilles.
The distinctive Berkshire venue will reopen its gardens to socially distanced audiences with performances of the critic and audience-pleasing production on the Front Lawn until 19 June.
Unveiling details of the new season, artistic director Paul Hart said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to announce another joyous summer season after the sell-out success of last year. Audiences absolutely loved our production of The Hound of the Baskervilles which was devised in the midst of the pandemic. I was struck by the idea of a group of individuals trying to solve a murder whilst observing social distancing measures (!) and we’re delighted to bring back the production for a very limited run.
“The rest of the season integrates themes of the environment and sustainability, an issue we’re really passionate about, not least because of our stunning location which backs onto a nature reserve in the heart of the Berkshire countryside.
“Our Shakespeare ensemble return with a radical new version of As You Like It which focuses on the importance of connecting with nature and as ever, will be filled with glorious music performed live by our cast. After this we’ll be presenting a very special concert performance of our summer musical, Just So. The show began its life at The Watermill to great acclaim in 1989. It feels like a perfect moment to celebrate this uplifting musical and to bring it to life once again, this time in our beautiful gardens! I couldn’t be more excited to welcome back audiences and to be creating brilliant theatre again.”
Hart will direct a cast of 12 actor-musicians in Yolanda Mercy’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy As You Like It. Featuring music inspired by the work of Mumford & Sons, Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver and Taylor Swift, the sustainability-focused production will use responsibly sourced, repurposed or recyclable materials to create the set, props and costumes for the pastoral comedy which will take over the main lawn from 24 June until 24 July.
The third production of the season (from 30 July until 4 September) will be a new semi-staged production of Stiles and Drewe’s musical re-working of Rudyard Kipling’s classic Just So Stories directed by Abigail Pickard Price with Tarek Merchant as musical director. With music by George Stiles and a book and lyrics by Anthony Drewe, Just So was originally produced by Cameron Mackintosh at the Watermill Theatre in 1984. Mackintosh also produced the show’s London debut at the Tricycle Theatre in 1990.
Audiences will be able to enjoy the performances from reserved socially distanced tables seating two, four or six people. A limited number of individual seats will also be available with people aged 18-30 years able to access a number of discounted solo tickets at £15 for each show. Seats will be uncovered with performances going ahead in all weathers and audience members are advised to dress appropriately for the weather conditions and are invited to bring extra cushions and blankets. Other safety measures include a requirement for face masks to be worn to access indoor space including the toilets, hand sanitiser and a one-way system. There will be free onsite parking in the main car park. The Watermill will comply with Government guidelines, with all measures kept under constant review.
One of the UK’s leading regional theatres, the Watermill Theatre usually stages around 12 new productions annually, ranging from Shakespeare and new and classic musicals through to new plays and youth productions.
To help The Watermill rebuild its artistic programme and resume its outreach and education activities on-site, the theatre has launched ACT 2, a new fundraising appeal.
Announcing ACT 2, Hart said: “The past year has undoubtedly been a challenging time for us, but the generosity of our community has truly blown us away. Buoyed by your encouragement we are delighted to be reopening, and hope that you feel able to continue to support our mission to uplift and inspire people through great theatre.”
Recent Watermill Theatre success stories include the critically-acclaimed musical version of hit French film Amélie, and inventive actor/musician versions of Kiss Me Kate, Sweet Charity, the classic George and Ira Gershwin musical Crazy For You and Twelfth Night.
Angela Thomas
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