Out & About June 2017

GOLDEN YEAR for the Watermill

It’s many happy returns at the Bagnor theatre as it celebrates its 50th anniversary by revisiting Sondheim, Joe Orton and Dylan Thomas. TRISH LEE talks to its artistic director Paul Har t

I n 1967, David Gollins, together with his mother Judy, realised a dream of turning the derelict old Bagnor paper mill into a theatre, albeit a primitive affair at first. The Watermill is now celebrating its 50th anniversary – one of the few producing theatres in the country, with a national and international reputation for quality work. Its current artistic director Paul Hart says: “It’s a huge year for us and the building is in full swing. We currently have four shows in production, several on tour and many more in pre-production.”

it a very special experience for audiences and actors. I think it makes a real difference that the actors live and rehearse on site, and for audiences it’s also a retreat from the world, where you can come and let the imagination roam.” This is the second full season for Paul, who was previously associate director for Edward Hall’s all-male Shakespeare ensemble Propeller and the National Youth Theatre and also worked with London’s Donmar Warehouse and Theatre Royal Haymarket, where he trained as an apprentice. He directed four shows at The Watermill before taking over as its artistic and executive director. “It feels a real privilege to be putting together the programme in The Watermill’s 50th anniversary year.” His idea is to celebrate some of the notable achievements of the last 50 years. “But rather than staging a year full of revivals, we’d bring our audiences a range of new work. It’s important to look back and also to be excited by future possibilities as well.” Now halfway through the anniversary year, the productions are going down well, with the theatre about to open the epic House and Garden – two plays by Alan Ayckbourn. “This major revival will be a great celebration of theatre that takes over our beautiful site – a reminder that there’s no venue quite like The Watermill,” says Paul. “I’m particularly looking forward to Garden , an outstanding opportunity to experience the joy

of outdoor theatre. From covered seating in the theatre gardens, audiences will get to watch the madness of this epic comical play unfold!” 2017 began with Frankenstein, Murder For Two and The Wipers Times all transferring to London and the team is now gearing up for major tours around the UK with Crazy For You, The Wipers Times, Romeo + Juliet and Twelfth Night. There’s also a range of work touring to schools and village halls, as well as an amazing array of youth theatre and community work from the theatre’s outreach department. And still much more to come. “We return to Stephen Sondheim with his great masterpiece A Little Night Music as our summer musical. We also revisit playwright Joe Orton, whose work was so influential at the time The Watermill began producing professional theatre, with the 50th anniversary production of Loot . 

I can’t imagine there’s a busier theatre in the country right now and it’s a thrilling place to be

The Watermill has always created imaginative work and is known particularly for its use of music and actor musicianship, but, more than anything, that you can rely on its exceptional production values. It is a singular place, as Paul says: “It’s a space like no other – the rural location makes

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