Events Organised by the Friends of The Watermill Spring /Summer 2020

organised by the Friends Friends Priority Booking opens Wednesday 4 December General Booking from Wednesday 11 December

Creative insights

Supper Clubs

summer fair

SUPPER CLUBS Tuesday 18 February Supper Club

Forensic Science – A look behind the sceneS Price: £24 (includes supper)

Bar opens @ 6.30pm | Supper @ 7.30pm - 1 course with coffee | Talk @ 8.30pm |

Professor Angela Gallop CBE is arguably Britain’s most prominent forensic scientist. As a practising forensic scientist for over 40 years, Angela specialises in setting up and running forensic labs, and has personally overseen the scientific investigation of many of the country’s most complex criminal cases including; Damilola Taylor, Rachel Nickell, and more recently the Coastal Path, and Stephen Lawrence murders.

Never before in the history of criminal justice have so many cases relied so heavily on scientific evidence, with forensic scientists having ever more sophisticated and powerful techniques at their disposal. Angela, will deliver a fascinating insight into her work as a leading forensic scientist.

Tuesday 10 March Supper Club

Sir Mark Prescott – Horse Trainer Price: £24 (includes supper)

Bar opens @ 6.30pm | Supper @ 7.30pm - 1 course with coffee | Talk @ 8.30pm |

With more than 2000 winners to his name, the inimitable horse trainer Sir Mark Prescott will talk about his life and work at Newmarket Yard Heath House Stables.

For over 45 years, Sir Mark has trained winners including classic winning filly Confidential Lady, champion sire Pivotal, champion fillies Alborada, Albanova, Last Second and world champion 2-year-old filly Hooray.

Tuesday 7 April Supper Club

60 Years in Space – Newbury Astronomical Society Price: £24 (includes supper)

Bar opens @ 6.30pm | Supper @ 7.30pm - 1 course with coffee | Talk @ 8.30pm |

Our knowledge of the solar system has been transformed in the last few decades by crewed and robotic space missions.

From the early space race to current routine missions to the International Space Station we’ve come a long way, but not all our dreams have been realised. Join Richard Fleet, a life-long amateur astronomer and a member of the Newbury Astronomical Society, to hear about some of the highs and lows of our adventures in space.

Tuesday 14 April Supper Club

Pendon Museum – A miniature glimpse into English rural life of bygone days Price: £24 (includes supper)

Bar opens @ 6.30pm | Supper @ 7.30pm - 1 course with coffee | Talk @ 8.30pm |

Pendon Museum uniquely captures scenes from the English countryside in miniature, using exquisite models to recreate the beauty and hardships of rural life during the inter-war years of the 1920s and 30s. With incredibly accurate and detailed dioramas featuring Great Western Railways, downland villages and local landscapes, the museum preserves history by telling miniature stories about the fundamental changes that have taken place in our rural environment and society. Join Chris Webber, Curator and Trustee of Pendon Museum who will share his knowledge and passion for local rural history. Enjoy a truly unique trip down memory lane.

Tuesday 9 June Supper Club

Who Do We Think We Are? Discover Your Backstory Price: £24 (includes supper)

Bar opens @ 6.30pm | Supper @ 7.30pm - 1 course with coffee | Talk @ 8.30pm |

Interested in your family history but don’t know where to start? Join Catherine Sampson, a distinguished local historian and Chairman of the Berkshire Family History Society, for a fascinating talk on how to ? research your family history, what types ? of records are available and how to ? ? interpret this information. ?

Could your backstory unlock a family ? secret? Was your ancestor a landowner, pioneer, war hero, politician or smuggler? This talk will inspire you to discover who you really are.

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CREATIVE INSIGHTS Tuesday 17 March Creative Insights

The Wicker Husband RHYS JENNINGS and DARREN CLARK Price: £22 (includes lunch)

Bar opens @ 11.30am | Talk @ 12 noon | Lunch @ 1pm - 1 course with coffee |

After a six-year development period, The Wicker Husband is ready to hit The Watermill stage!

This folk-inspired new musical will receive its world premiere at The Watermill Theatre.

Join dynamic duo, Rhys Jennings (writer) and Darren Clark (music and lyrics) to hear about the creative process behind this mesmerising musical. Winners of the MTI Stiles + Drewe Mentorship Award in 2016, Jennings and Clark will take you on a musical theatre journey of discovery.

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Tuesday 28 April Creative Insights

Hamlet PAUL HART AND A MEMBER OF THE CAST Price: £22 (includes lunch)

Bar opens @ 11.30am | Talk @ 12 noon | Lunch @ 1pm - 1 course with coffee |

From rehearsal room to opening night, join Paul Hart, The Watermill’s Artistic Director for a behind the scenes look into how Hamlet has been created.

Paul will talk about his vision for Hamlet, how he’s staged the show and how casting female actors in roles traditionally played by male actors has changed the make-up of this iconic play.

Tuesday 16 June Creative Insights

Our Man in Havana BEN MORALES FROST and RICHARD HOUGH Price: £22 (includes lunch)

Bar opens @ 11.30am | Talk @ 12 noon | Lunch @ 1pm - 1 course with coffee |

If you’ve ever wondered how to set a classic comedic tale of espionage and subterfuge to music then look no further! Join the magnificent and wonderfully gifted songwriting team Ben Morales Frost and Richard Hough, creators of the new musical version of Graham Greene’s Our Man In Havana, and they will explain everything! Frost and Hough will talk about how they’ve approached this piece of literary fiction and how it’s been transformed into a sultry, sizzling, Cuban musical. No previous sleuthing experience necessary!

If you, or any of your guests, have specific dietary requirements for these events, please let us know via email restaurant@watermill.org.uk or call the Box Office: 01635 46044.

OTHER EVENTS Wednesday15 April

Lunch and Social Bridge

Price: £80 per table of four, i.e. £20 per person (includes lunch with a small glass of wine, tea and cake) Bar opens @ 11.30am | Lunch @ 12 noon - 1 course | Play commences @ 1pm |

All bridge players are warmly welcomed to enjoy an afternoon of lunch, bridge, tea and cake at The Watermill.

Chicago Bridge Format will be played and tables will be provided but please bring your own bridge cloth and playing cards. Prizes will be awarded and a raffle will also take place in the afternoon.

Sunday 31 May

THE watermill summer fair

Entry: Adults £1, 12 years and under free Time: 12noon to 4pm (no booking required) Come and enjoy our annual Summer Fair in the beautiful gardens at The Watermill Theatre. There will be live music, storytelling, a Punch and Judy show, a variety of stalls and games, delicious food, a Pimms bar, a raffle and a chance to back a winner in the duck race!

We’re on the lookout for volunteers to help at the Summer Fair so if you’re interested, please contact friends@watermill.org.uk or call the Friends Secretary on 01635 45834.

Tuesday 8 December The Friends Christmas Party

Basil’s Christmas Carol: Comedy Dinner Show Price £45 (includes supper) Bar opens @ 6.30pm | Show commences @ 7.30pm | 3 course supper @ 7.50pm |

What the Dickens?!

After telling Manuel that he has to work on Christmas Day, miserly old Basil Fawlty is visited by the ghosts of his old business partner and 3 comedy legends in this hilarious take on the Dickens Christmas Classic.

Sybil wants Basil to return to the ‘carefree’ man she married and Manuel’s desperate to feed his son, Tiny Timeo. But will Basil manage to change his ways, serve his guests and fill them with Christmas cheer… or at least a Christmas pudding.

A three course supper will be served by the cast during the performance.

Book early to avoid disappointment.

leave a Legacy Help inspire future generations At The Watermill, producing high quality theatre is our passion and sharing our work with as many people as possible drives us forward.

We are a small theatre with big ambition. To ensure The Watermill can be enjoyed by many more generations to come, we rely on the generosity of people like you, our wonderful supporters, to help care for the theatre’s future.

Please consider leaving a gift in your Will to The Watermill Theatre.

Your legacy will touch the lives of many people – of all ages – who gain so much from our productions onstage, our work in the community and the activities we offer through our inspirational outreach and education programme.

For further information in confidence, please contact: Jo Bycroft, Development Director, Tel: 01635 570928, Email: legacy@watermill.org.uk, website: watermill.org.uk/legacy_giving Thank you.

become a friend By becoming a Friend of The Watermill Theatre, your donation not only goes to the heart of what we do - create memorable theatre for all to enjoy, but also supports many engagement opportunities for young people in our local community. That makes you a very special Friend indeed! So, why not join today?

Typically, Friends make a £30 donation as an individual supporter or £45 as a joint supporter (2 people living at the same address).

As a Friend, you will receive: • Priority booking (whenever possible) • Regular Events leaflet

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The easiest way to become a Friend is to join online at watermill.org.uk/friends or for further Friends information, email friends@watermill.org.uk

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Contact us Book events at watermill.org.uk Box Office 01635 46044 For Friends enquiries, please contact Julie Pearson, Friends Secretary.

Tel. 01635 45834 Email: friends@watermill.org.uk There are a limited number of tickets for these events so you are advised to book early.

The Watermill Theatre is a registered charity no: 261430 and receives core funding from

­Design and print by - kdp 01635 299507

The Watermill Theatre and Restaurant Bagnor, Newbury, Berkshire RG20 8AE