Watermill Theatre

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The Watermill Theatre is a producing theatre in Bagnor, Berkshire. It opened in 1967 in Bagnor Mill, a converted watermill on the River Lambourn. As a producing house, the theatre has staged works that have subsequently moved on to the West End, including the 2004 revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, which also transferred to Broadway in 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The theatre has become recognised in particular for its focus on actor-musician led productions, and for focusing on accessibility within theatre.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In particular, the theatre has pioneered the concept of Integrated British Sign Language performances, which is a style of interpreted performance wherein the interpreters perform on stage as part of the cast, as opposed to remaining by the side of the stage.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2024 the Watermill Theatre jointly won Theatre of the Year at The Stage Awards.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

The theatre is situated in Bagnor Mill, a former corn mill on the River Lambourn in Bagnor, Berkshire.<ref name="NLS">Template:Cite web</ref> The site is named in the Domesday Book, which references a watermill in Bagnor, though the current building is much more recent. It opened as a 113-seat amateur theatre in 1965, having been converted by David Gollins.<ref name="WT History">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1967 the theatre was expanded with the addition of a fly system and lighting control,<ref name="WT History" />Template:Failed verification and housed its first professional productions.<ref name="TT">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1971, the auditorium was rebuilt to allow a capacity of 170.<ref name="WT History" />Template:Failed verification

In 1981 the theatre was purchased by Jill Fraser, who sought to change it from a local repertory theatre into a producing house.<ref name="WT History" />Template:Failed verification In the 1990s, the Propeller company was formed at the theatre. In the early 21st century, the theatre staged a number of productions that subsequently transferred to the West End – including Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,<ref name="WT History" /> and The Gondoliers.<ref name="Albemarle">Template:Cite web</ref>

In the mid-2000s, Fraser sought to sell the theatre to ensure its long-term future. The "Save The Watermill" appeal was founded to raise funds to allow the board of trustees to purchase the theatre. Fraser died from cancer in February 2006. In 2008 it was announced that funds had been met for the theatre's purchase.<ref name="WT History" />

Fraser was succeeded as artistic director by Hedda Beeby, who was voted Theatre Manager of the year in the 2014 UK Theatre Awards.<ref name="WT History" /> Paul Hart, the incumbent artistic director, was appointed as Beeby's successor in 2015.<ref name="WT History" />

Awards

Sweeney Todd (2006) received two Olivier Awards after transferring from the Watermill.<ref name=":4" />Template:Failed verification Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale was nominated for four WhatsOnStage awards and won Best Regional Production, in 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It also received eight BroadwayWorld Awards.Template:Citation needed That year, the Watermill and the National Theatre were jointly awarded Theatre of the Year by The Stage,<ref name=":2" /> and the Watermill was name Community Charity of the Year by the Greenham Trust at their annual awards ceremony, in recognition of their outreach programme.<ref name=":3" />

Touring and transfers

As a producing house, theatre that debuted at the Watermill goes on to tour the UK, transfer to the West End, or is reproduced internationally.

Community outreach

In 2024 the theatre was name Community Charity of the Year by the Greenham Trust at their annual awards ceremony, in recognition of their outreach programme.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref>

The Watermill runs a "Careers in the Arts" programme, in collaboration with Corn Exchange Newbury, which provides young people with work experience, workshops, and traineeships.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable figures

Tom Attenborough, Rosalie Craig, Barney Norris, Caroline Sheen, Sophie Stone, and Sarah Travis have all been Associate Artists at the Watermill. Edward Hall began his professional career at the theatre, and is an honorary Associate Artist.<ref name=":4" />

Funding

The Watermill is a registered charity and receives funding from a variety of sources. It was previously funded by Arts Council England, as part of their National Portfolio Organisation funding scheme, which highlights cultural institutions that it believed to be of national importance. In 2022, the Arts Council announced the conclusion of a major review into its funding strategy, which resulted in many cultural organisations having their funding cut, including the Watermill which lost 100% of its funding.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The theatre also receives funding in the form of individual donations by members of the public, donations from Trusts and Foundations as well as through corporate funding schemes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Income is also generated through the sale of tickets for the shows, and sale of merchandise.

In 2020, the theatre accepted a £500,000 donation from the Sackler family, the billionaire American family accused of contributing to the opioid crisis through the drug OxyContin.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In January 2024, the New York Times contacted 30 institutions which were previously recipients of Sackler money, 29 of which confirmed that they no longer accepted money from the family. The Watermill Theatre was the only institution which declined to comment.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

References

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