Burke and Hare, 24th April to 5th May
and on tour (all at 19:30):
East Garston Village Hall, 18th April
Aldworth Village Hall, 19th April
Pangbourne Village Hall, 11th May
Cold Ash Acland Memorial Hall, 16th May
Highclere Village Hall, 19th May
Bradfield Village Hall, 21st May
Hampstead Norreys Village Hall, 22nd May
The Morrell Room, Streatley, 24th May
Uffington Memorial Hall, 25th May
1828, Edinburgh. Two Williams, William Burke and William Hare, discover a money making scheme far more lucrative than hosting lodgers. The first rule of business? Supply and demand. In the leading city for medical research, there’s a huge demand for bodies and an inconveniently low number of deaths. The profitable solution? Murder, of course. As the infamous pair flourish in their new found careers, the more they murder, the less they care but for how long will they get away with it? In a new black comedy that is as hysterical as it is historical, three actors tell the true story of the prolific duo.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 10th May to 16th June
Four lovers escape the decorum of the royal courts, eluding tradition and etiquette on one fateful, intoxicating night in the Athenian woods. Secrets, love and mistaken identities collide with a fusion of rich and beautiful music inspired by the hedonistic soulful sounds of Nina Simone and Billie Holiday. Hermia is to be married to Demetrius.But she actually loves Lysander and after the lovers runaway to marry in secret, pursued by Demetrius, who has been told by Helena of their plan, all respectability begins to unravel. Enter an enchanted world of dreams and passion, where the powerful spirits of a midsummer’s night will put a spell on you. See the reviews below.

Sidney's Shed, 2nd June, 10:30
Maisie is on the run and thinks she’s found the perfect place - Sidney’s Shed. But this is no ordinary shed, and Sidney Waffles is no ordinary gardener… The potty flower-potter has made some unusual improvements to his allotment. Sidney has created the world’s first time travelling shed! Join Sidney and the bravest little girl in Windy-on-the-Hill on their time-travelling journey to dig up the past and weed out the bullies! Rhubarb Theatre present a brand-new family show for gardeners and adventurers of all ages - bursting with historical hilarity, songs, music and prize winning rhubarb! Sidney’s Shed is a fun and fast-paced adventure through time for all the family. Suitable for 5 to 105 years.

Jerusalem, 21st June to 21st July
By Jez Butterworth. England’s green and pleasant land. St George’s Day. It’s the day of the Flintlock Fair and the day Kennet and Avon Council want to see the back of Johnny ‘Rooster’ Byron for good. The new estate want the maverick local boy evicted, but Johnny has other plans. At his ramshackle caravan kingdom, the charismatic hellraiser entertains his band of ‘undesirable’ scallywags with outlandish tales, unbelievable antics and an ample supply of booze and drugs. Infamous for holding the most riotous parties this side of the Wiltshire border, Johnny is a hero to many but a villain to others. Pursued by the authorities, threatened by the local thug and reprimanded by his ex, Johnny is not a man to be beaten down. Inciting his own special brew of anarchy, Johnny fights against the hypocrisy of modern suburban life and embodies the spirit of England’s legendary giants of myth. A raucous, earthy contemporary classic, Jerusalem paints a rebellious alternative vision of the idyllic English countryside. Following enormous success in the West End and Broadway, Jez Butterworth’s startling, multi award-winning play is brought to life in its first major revival since its London premiere.

Sweet Charity, 26th July to 15th September
Charity Hope Valentine fantasises about three things in life: romance, luxury and escaping the questionable clientele of the Fandango Ballroom. Lovable, gullible and spirited, she longs to find a lover who can sweep her off her feet but guided by the ‘fickle finger of fate’, Charity is always handing over her heart (and her earnings) to the wrong man. There’s Charlie tattooed on her arm, movie star Vittorio Vidal and then there’s Oscar. But will any of them be her one true love? Charity’s romantic highs and lows entertain and dismay her fellow dancers but in trying to shake off the past, will she ever be able to live happily ever after?
With a hit score including Big Spender, If My Friends Could See Me Now, Rhythm of Life and I’m a Brass Band, this iconic musical comedy is brought right up to date in a modern reimagining by Watermill Artistic Director Paul Hart and award-winning musical supervisor Sarah Travis.

Trial by Laughter, 20th September to 27th October
Following critical acclaim for The Wipers Times, Ian Hislop and Nick Newman return to The Watermill with the premiere of a new play inspired by extraordinary real-life events. William Hone, the forgotten hero of free speech, was a bookseller, publisher and satirist. In 1817, he stood trial for ‘impious blasphemy and seditious libel’. The only crime he had committed was to be funny. Worse than that he was funny by parodying religious texts. And worst of all, he was funny about the despotic government and the debauched monarchy. Along with his great ally, political cartoonist George Cruikshank, Hone sought vindication for his laughable offences and fought for freedom in one of the most remarkable legal cases of its time.

Jane Eyre, 29th October to 2nd November
By Charlotte Brontë. After enduring a childhood of cruelty and loneliness, orphan Jane Eyre takes a position as the governess at Thornfield Hall. But when love blossoms between Jane and her enigmatic employer Mr Rochester, a secret is discovered that forces her to choose between happiness and integrity, desire and conviction. Dark, passionate and political, Jane Eyre is a searing portrayal of a woman’s search for equality and freedom. Brontë’s classic novel is brought to life by three actors in a fast-paced, stripped back new adaptation.

Easy Virtue, 7th to 10th November
The Whittaker family live in an idyllic bubble of socialising and propriety but that’s all about to implode when they’re introduced to their son’s new American bride. A razor-sharp commentary on the morals and conventions of English society, Easy Virtue displays Noël Coward’s satire and wit in a rare revival of one of his earliest plays. The Young Company recreate the glamour and scandal of the Roaring Twenties in this comic melodrama, full of rumours, misapprehensions and dazzling jewels.

Robin Hood, 15th November to 5th January
Robin Hood returns home to find the greedy Sheriff of Nottingham starving the local people of Sherwood Forest. Courageous, kind and headstrong, Robin can’t stand by and watch friends and family suffer. Robin, the most skilful archer in the land, vows to be brave and stand up for the local people. Join the fearless, witty hero and a host of lively friends as they set off on a mission to steal from the rich and give to the poor. This hilarious new adaptation is written by acclaimed children's author Laura Dockrill.

Reviews of A Midsummer Night’s Dream

10th May to 16th June

There are reviews from The Stage ("fizzing with humour, charm, and just a touch of chaos... a particularly light and delightful fairy tale... an overall sense of sheer fun that’s both rare and refreshing... " - 4 stars), The Spy In The Stalls ("this joyful new production... such a delightful Dream" - 4stars), WhatsOnStage ("the company transform a story familiar to many into a tale of the unexpected with game-changing casting coups... expect the unexpected in an evening of magical delight" - 4 stars), There Ought To Be Clowns ("an unalloyed pleasure... full of innovative touches which work separately like a treat and also combine into something really special... the world of Shakespeare in all its exhilarating imagination").