Great shows that audiences love!

The Watermill Theatre is one of the UK's most successful regional producing theatres.

The Berkshire theatre produces nationally renowned work.

Started in 1967 this venue combines a producing theatre situated in an old Victorian paper mill, and excellent restaurant in a tithe barn and fabulous grounds.

Since 1967, from their unique home in a converted Watermill in rural West Berkshire, they have produced award-winning work that has been recognised throughout the UK and abroad.

They are a regional powerhouse, consistently making an innovative contribution to the vibrant and diverse landscape of UK Theatre reaching far beyond the 220 seats of the theatre itself.

The very best artists and creative teams, both established and at early stages of their careers, are their lifeblood, earning The Watermill a reputation as one of the very best producing theatres in the country.

They continually aim to present a programme of live performances and outreach opportunities that are inspiring and thought-provoking with lasting impact.

Their artistic ambition is shown in their choice of work, from new writing and musicals to Shakespeare and classic plays.

Their pioneering approach has led them to be well known for their actor-musician shows, which has led to the reimagining of well-known titles and new writing.

Alongside their shows on The Watermill stage, they enjoy touring work all across the country, to a host of different communities.

They have secured West End and national transfers as well as touring internationally to countries as Nepal, New York, Bombay and Barbados.

Most recently The Watermill’s hit production of Spike is touring around the UK.

Previous to that in 2019 Amelie embarked on a UK tour before taking up West End residence in The Other Place and in 2018 Trial by Laughter embarked on a UK tour.

As part of their commitment to the community, they take one show a year to local villages to provide access to professional theatre in rural areas.

They create productions for small-scale touring, ensuring that those living in rural isolation are able to enjoy high quality theatre on their doorstep. 

They also tour to schools taking scaled down, new, vibrant adaptions of classic texts into the classroom to support students’ learning.

 Their belief that everyone deserves a chance to a thriving education and participation programme.

They work with around 19,000 people every year at The Watermill and in the wider community through their Take Part sessions.

It costs in the region of £3m to produce their plays, run the theatre and their education and participation programme.

As a registered charity, they work hard to generate approximately 81% of their income ourselves derived from theatre activities, box office and restaurant income and fundraising initiatives.

They also receive core funding from Arts Council England.

Relax and enjoy a freshly prepared meal at their Riverside Restaurant and Bar.

Their onsite bar and restaurant is open from two hours before every performance. 

There is a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available, including local ale from Two Cocks Brewery and sustainable wine from All Angels vineyard in Enborne, West Berkshire.

If you have any special dietary requirements or require information about allergens, please contact restaurant@watermill.org.uk and the team will be happy to help. 

They're committed to making their theatre as welcoming as possible for everyone.

 At the Watermill they offer British Sign Integrated, Audio Described, Captioned, and Relaxed performances.

They believe passionately about providing accessible performances to inspire the next generation of theatre makers and allow everyone to be seen on stage as part of the whole story.

Click here to see their accessible performance diary.

They offer a wide range of weekly groups, holiday courses and workshops for children and adults of all ages to inspire, expand creativity and bring the community together.

The Watermill is a proudly inclusive environment with access support widely available for anyone who needs it. 

They also tour shows to local villages and schools, support local teachers and community group leaders, help local businesses to be more effective in how they connect and communicate, and create opportunities for local people to be more actively involved in the wider activities of their theatre.

For more information about their programme and how they might be able to support you, your child or a group you work with, please call the outreach team on 01635 570934 or email outreach@watermill.org.uk