The world premiere of Enigma, a new stage version of Robert Harris's Bletchley Park thriller, is the headline of the Watermill Theatre's 60th anniversary year in 2027, which also brings back The Wipers Times and Jerusalem.
The Watermill Theatre in Newbury will mark six decades of professional work in 2027 with seven productions, among them the first staging of Mike Poulton's adaptation of Robert Harris's Enigma. Artistic Director Paul Hart directs it in the autumn, in a co-commission with Chichester Festival Theatre.
The theatre occupies a corn mill built in the 1830s, which David Gollins began converting in 1965; its first professional production followed in 1967, and the auditorium still seats around 200. Among the shows to have left it for wider stages are an actor-musician Sweeney Todd, which went on to the West End and Broadway, and a revival of The Lord of the Rings - A Musical Tale that later travelled to America, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.
Announcing the programme, Paul Hart and Executive Director Claire Murray, the theatre's joint chief executives, said: "We hope this season has something for everyone and offers a chance for our entire Watermill community to celebrate the incredible past and exciting future of this unique organisation."
The Wipers Times
Ian Hislop and Nick Newman's comedy The Wipers Times opens the year, running from 29 January - 6 March 2027, directed by Caroline Leslie. It was first staged at the Watermill in 2016 and has since made three national tours and two West End runs, and it is now on the national curriculum. The writers' earlier work for the theatre includes Spike, A Bunch of Amateurs and The Autobiography of a Cad.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
From 11-13 March 2027 the Watermill Youth Ensemble performs A Midsummer Night's Dream, adapted and directed by Matty Green, with the young cast playing instruments as well as acting. The production marks 40 years of the Watermill's Youth Theatre.
Jerusalem
Jez Butterworth's Jerusalem returns from 19 March - 24 April 2027, in association with Fiery Angel. The new staging is based on Lisa Blair's 2018 production for the theatre and is co-directed by Paul Hart and Georgie Staight. The play is set within ten miles of the Watermill.
Priority booking for The Wipers Times, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Jerusalem opens on 21 October 2026, with general sale for all three from 30 October 2026.
Way Upstream
Alan Ayckbourn's dark comedy Way Upstream moves outdoors in a staging set on a boat, played on and around the River Lambourn beside the theatre. Katie Posner directs, her first production for the Watermill.
Carousel
The summer musical is Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel, in a new production directed by Paul Hart for a company of actor-musicians. Stuart Morley provides a new orchestral adaptation, Anjali Mehra choreographs, and the music and dance will extend from the auditorium into the grounds. The company is working with the domestic abuse charity Project Salama on how the story of Billy and Julie is told. Horsey Lightly Solicitors sponsors the production.
Enigma
Enigma follows the codebreaker Tom Jericho at Bletchley Park as the disappearance of Claire Romilly pulls him into a world of espionage and betrayal. Mike Poulton adapts the novel and Paul Hart directs; Hart described the project as one in which "Mike Poulton reunites with Robert Harris".
Beauty and the Beast
The anniversary year ends at Christmas with the world premiere of Tatty Hennessy's adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's Beauty and the Beast, directed by Indiana Lown-Collins with a new folk-inspired score and aimed at audiences aged 4 and over. Hennessy adapted Morpurgo's The Sleeping Sword for the Watermill in 2022, and Lown-Collins co-directs the theatre's Christmas 2026 revival of Morpurgo's Pinocchio.
Dates for Way Upstream, Carousel, Enigma and Beauty and the Beast are still to be announced. The theatre lists Beauty and the Beast as going on sale in November 2026 and the other three in 2027, and casting across the season will be announced separately.
Reflecting on the programme, Paul Hart said: "Despite receiving no subsidy from central Government or local authority funding, the Watermill continues to make work that is truly distinctive."
Away from the stage, the year brings a new Community Collective project working with four local partner groups, and Creative Futures, a public fundraising campaign that aims to raise £60,000 during 2027.
Six decades at the Watermill, in production photographs
For more information, visit the official website.
