Arts & Culture
Thought-provoking digital theatre, online storytelling events and more!
               

‘The story is full of imagination… slick and refined’

The Guardian

‘An updated satire on beauty’
          The Telegraph

‘Reframes beauty and popularity for a technology-centric age’

Broadway World

‘This production couldn’t be more up to date if it tried…’ theSpyintheStalls


          Oscar Wilde’s Faustian tale is brought into a world of Instagram, Facebook and dating apps where real life and online identity dangerously blur. Joanna Lumley, Fionn Whitehead, Emma McDonald, Alfred Enoch, Stephen Fry and Russell Tovey are the star-studded cast of this brand-new ‘must-see’ digital adaptation.

    Watch the trailer here.

Video On Demand performances are available until 31 March. Performances will be fully captioned and audio description will be available from 23 - 31 March.

 

Tickets are £12 and include a digital programme. You will receive a screening link which will activate on your booked performance date for a 48 hour period.

Age guidance 16+.

Content warning: The Picture of Dorian Gray includes strong language and contains scenes of self-harm, suicide, death and mental illness which some viewers may find upsetting.

               

               

 
               

The Watermill is proud to be a partner venue for The Picture of Dorian Gray. Co-produced by The Barn Theatre, Lawrence Batley Theatre, New Wolsey Theatre, Oxford Playhouse and Theatr Clwyd. We receive 25% of the value of all tickets purchased through our booking link.

               

Local resident Simon Coates is singlehandedly taking on the incredible challenge of walking 2000 miles between March and 31 October to raise money for sixteen charities, including The Watermill Theatre! So far Simon has clocked up over 100 miles, walking for 2 - 3 hours per day! We are delighted to be involved and hope you will join us in cheering Simon on throughout his fundraising mission.

To find out more about the CharityHikes fundraiser and to stay up to date with Simon’s hiking journey follow @CharityHikes on Twitter and Facebook.

If you would like to support Simon’s challenge and make a donation to The Watermill Theatre, please visit our Virgin Money Giving fundraising page here. We are hugely grateful for any support you feel able to give. Thank you and good luck Simon!

               

               

Back by popular demand, Lizzie Lewis will be joining us again for two live online storytelling events. These sessions will take place via Zoom. 

 

These adaptations of timeless fairy tales are especially created for young children and their parents. So grab those snacks and get ready for an epic adventure!

               
                                               
                                                                               
                                                                                                               

The Ugly Duckling

 

By Hans Christian Anderson

 

Puddle the duck lives on the farm. Every day he tries to ‘fit in’ with his animal friends, but poor Puddle can’t help feeling that he doesn’t quite belong. Feeling lonely, Puddle leaves the farm to find new friends, but where will his trip take him? Can you help Puddle find a home of his very own?

               

Thursday 8 April at 4pm

 

Tickets: £8 per device

 

Suitable for children aged 2 - 6 years.

               

               
                                               
                                                                               
                                                                                                               

The selfish giant

By Oscar Wilde

 

Every day the local children love to play in a beautiful deserted garden. But they soon discover that the garden belongs to none other than a giant - who doesn’t like children one bit! He throws all the children out, which makes the garden so sad that nothing grows there anymore. Can you help the children to save the garden, and help the Giant to see sense?

 
               

Thursday 3 June at 4pm

 

Tickets: £8 per device

 

Suitable for children aged 2 - 6 years.

               

               

               

Yesterday we hosted Signs of The Times, our very first live online performance bringing together four Deaf actors to perform monologues in British Sign Language, each reflecting on the recent shifts in our culture.

 

If you’re interested in finding out more about drama and BSL, why not join us for Sign Up. This online workshop will be led in BSL by one of our Deaf facilitators with a spoken English voiceover throughout. Sign Up takes place on Monday 22 March at 5.30pm - 6.30pm and is free, with donations welcome. It’s suitable for all ages, Deaf and hearing, and no experience is necessary. Book your place here.

 

Are you Deaf or use BSL and love theatre? Come and join the conversation online! We’re excited to host Deaf Theatre Lovers. An online event giving Deaf creatives and audiences the chance to shape what The Watermill offers in the future, as well as the opportunity to chat to like minded theatre lovers. A Deaf facilitator will lead the session, with an interpreter on hand to support communication. This event is suitable for ages 16+ and will take place on Monday 22 March at 11am - 12pm for free. Book your place here.

 

Watch our signed and captioned videos below.

               

               

               
                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                                               

Enjoy some time to play and connect through drama and creativity in this relaxed session for adults. No previous experience is necessary.

Tuesday 6 April, 4 May and 1 June

1pm – 2.30pm

Price: Free. These sessions are generously funded by Greenham Trust.

 

               

               

 
               
                                               
                                                                               
                                                                                                               

A celebration of new voices, new work, new stories.

 

The Watermill Theatre and Associate Company Wildcard are proud to partner on a new artist development programme, LAUNCHPAD.

 

The programme will support four emerging theatre companies to take flight into the industry. 

 
               

It will provide them with mentorship, a week’s free rehearsal space at Wildcard Studios or The Watermill Theatre, a financial investment of up to £2000 to create a new piece of work and professional artistic support and guidance.

 

Rehearsal space and research and development time will be provided between May and June 2021 and consequently we are looking for companies who will be in a position to hit the ground running fairly swiftly. The deadline for applications is Thursday 1 April.