Watermill Theatre announce magical Christmas show

By Amanda Wilkins - 17 September 2024

Arts and CultureAttractionsFamily

The most famous puppet the world has ever known is coming to the Watermill, Newbury, this Christmas, in a brand-new musical adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s Pinocchio.

Lovingly carved in Geppetto’s workshop, Pinocchio’s parents dream of a bright future for their wooden son.  Pinocchio, however, dreams of adventure and sets off on a path of fun and freedom ready to discover the world.  Along the way, Pinocchio is confronted with big decisions and a menagerie of colourful characters, leading to calamitous consequences as he starts a fire, turns into a donkey, and even ends up inside a whale!

Morpurgo’s beloved children’s novel will be adapted for the stage by Simon Reade (Private Peaceful) with music & lyrics by Chris Larner (David Copperfield), and will be co-directed by Elle While (Twelfth Night for Cbeebies) and Indiana Lown-Collins (The Purple Princess).

A spokesperson said: “Join us for a magical show full of courage, heart, and a sprinkling of magic, Pinocchio celebrates what it means to grow up; the mistakes we make, the lessons we learn and the power of unconditional love.

“As a special treat for our audiences, all tickets for the first performance on 15 Nov will be £15 and will include a complimentary hot drink and sweet treat from our café before the show.”

There will also be a Pinocchio Fun Day on 29 Oct, where participants can join Pinocchio on an action-packed day of adventure including storytelling, drama games, and craft activities.

Tickets for the event are £5 per child and can be booked here (adults and under 2s go free and do not need a ticket).

The theatre would like to enable all young people to experience the magic of a Watermill production.

Geppetto's Gift Campaign encourages people to donate £11 to buy one ticket for a young person to enjoy a Watermill production - and thanks to a generous supporter your donation will be matched.

A spokesperson said: "We are passionate about ensuring that every young person is able to enjoy and engage with the arts, whatever their background or circumstances."

The show will run from 15 Nov until 5 Jan 2025. Tickets from £15 are avaliable here.

 

 

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