The Watermill Theatre Invites Audiences
The Watermill Theatre Invites Audiences
To A ‘Truly Scrumptious’ Gala Performance
For Their Summer Musical
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Saturday 4 July
And The Return Of Tony-Winning Director
And Former Watermill Associate Director In
An Audience With John Doyle
Friday 3 July
Tuesday 23 June, Newbury] Joint CEOs Artistic Director Paul Hart and Executive Director Claire Murray, and the whole team at Newbury’s Watermill Theatre are delighted to announce that the Watermill’s will be celebrating their smash-hit summer musical Chitty Chitty Bang with a special fundraising Gala Performance on Saturday 4 July, offering audiences the chance to enjoy a magical evening of theatre while supporting the charity’s vital work across the region.
Gala guests will be welcomed with drinks and canapés before taking their seats for the performance.
Following the show, attendees can continue the celebrations at an exclusive post-show party featuring live music, alongside members of the cast, creative team and Watermill supporters.
Proceeds from the Gala will support the Watermill Theatre’s ambitious programme of productions, outreach initiatives and access work.
Through the generosity of its supporters, the theatre delivered more than 50 access performances last year, ran 990 outreach activities, engaged 15,000 local people, and provided 15 bursary places for its Youth Theatre programme, nurturing the creative talent of tomorrow.
As well as the Gala Performance, the Watermill will also host a special fundraising event, An Audience with John Doyle, on Friday 3 July at 2.30pm.
The award-winning director, former Associate Director, and long-time friend of the theatre will return for an intimate conversation about his remarkable career and his recent memoir, Opening Doors: Reimagining the American Musical.
Doyle developed his celebrated ‘actor-musician’ style during his tenure at the Watermill, with productions including Sweeney Todd and Company transferring to Broadway and earning multiple Tony Awards.
His work helped shape the artistic identity for which the theatre is now internationally renowned.
Audiences will have the opportunity to hear Doyle reflect on his 50-year career in theatre, from his early years in the Scottish Highlands to his award-winning success on Broadway.
Following the event, Doyle will sign copies of his memoir, with books also available to purchase on the day.
All profits from the event will support the Watermill Theatre’s ongoing fundraising work.
Together, An Audience with John Doyle and the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Gala form a celebratory fundraising weekend, highlighting the Watermill’s rich artistic heritage while helping to secure its future as a leading producing theatre and cultural hub for the region.
Further details can be found at: https://www.watermill.org.uk/news/chitty-gala and https://www.watermill.org.uk/events/john-doyle
Photo credit Pamela Raith
The Watermill Theatre
The Watermill Theatre is a unique producing powerhouse of residential and artistic facilities which provide a crucible for creativity, innovative storytelling, and artistic excellence.
The Watermill’s mission is to make theatre that is surprising, inventive, and exciting and to enable access for everyone.
A hallmark of its work is the artistry of actor-musicianship, in both new writing and reinvigorated classics.
The theatre nurtures and celebrates talent and creativity in its company, community, and in the wider sector and it holds wellbeing, equity, and sustainability at the heart of its culture.
The Watermill Theatre is a small but mighty 200- seat theatre, set in idyllic gardens and nestled on the banks of the river Lambourn in rural West Berkshire, southeast England.
In 2024, the Watermill was awarded the prestigious title of ‘Theatre of the Year’ jointly with the National Theatre.
This award, recognising excellence in British theatre, was bestowed on the Watermill Theatre for its continued ambition as an independent charity, and the success of their 2023 production of The Lord of the Rings.
This multi award-winning production, the Watermill’s most ambitious to date, has subsequently transferred to Chicago, Auckland, and Australia (tour) before it returns to the UK in October 2025.
Reaching far beyond the 200 seats in its auditorium, the Watermill’s productions regularly transfer to the West End or tour the UK and internationally, including Calamity Jane, Spike, Bleak Expectations, Amelie the Musical, Tell Me on a Sunday, and Crazy for You.
With a core belief in the transformative power of the arts, the Watermill Theatre also runs a comprehensive outreach programme, working with children and young people, those from low- income backgrounds, and isolated or displaced communities.
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