The Watermill, Two Halves of Guinness, 29th to 31st January
Sir Alec Guinness’s commanding performance as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars secured his fame for future generations. Yet after a distinguished career as one of Britain’s greatest actors, the double-Oscar-winning star of over 70 films feared he would only be remembered as a Jedi Knight. Two Halves of Guinness reveals a mysterious life story worthy of the darkest Ealing Comedies, revisiting his most memorable characters and encountering a galaxy of stars along the way.
Lark Rise to Candleford, 6th February to 14th March
Surrounded by a sea of golden fields and tinkling brooks, time trickles in the hamlet of Lark Rise, moving with the gentle rhythm of the seasons. A thatched, stone cottage, a loving family, and a wish for something else, something more. When the long-promised trip over to Candleford emerges, Laura discovers a world beyond Lark Rise, beyond the pages of her beloved books. A world which moves to a different beat, full of new characters and new opportunities. Striving to find her place, to rewrite her future, a new chapter for Laura begins. Woven together with original music performed by an ensemble cast, this new version of Lark Rise to Candleford tells a story of cherished memories, finding your wings and the threads that bind us to home.
Swallows and Amazons, 19th to 21st March
Set sail with the Walkers for Wild Cat Island, where the adventures are daring and the schemes bold. A fierce rivalry with the Blacketts turns to fragile allegiance, in an epic battle against the mysterious Captain Flint and a race to discover the truth about the missing treasure. Transforming the everyday into a world of extraordinary adventure, this new Watermill Theatre Youth Ensemble production celebrates the boundless possibilities of play and imagination – proof that sometimes the greatest voyages begin at home.
Victoria: A Queen Unbound, 27th March to 9th May
As Victoria faces the final days of her reign, she clings to her diaries, the carefully kept record of a life defined by love, duty and profound loss. Into this certainty comes her younger self, forcing the older Victoria to confront memories she’s chosen to bury and truths she’s decided to forget.

The Mill at Sonning, Cash On Delivery, 5th February to 4th April
Mention the name Cooney and your mind instantly races to uproarious comedy and belly fulls of laughs And you are absolutely spot on as this razor sharp farce is written by none other than the famous screenwriter son of The Mill’s favourite – Ray Cooney! Michael Cooney’s Cash On Delivery is a fast-paced, whirlwind of a play that has all the ingredients for rib-tickling hilarity. Eric Swan (aided by his Uncle George and unbeknown to his wife, Linda) has pocketed thousands of pounds through fraudulent DSS claims. When Norman Bassett (the lodger) opens the door to Mr Jenkins, the DSS Inspector, deceptive mayhem follows — as do the undertaker, bereavement counsellor, psychiatrist, Norman’s fiancé, a corpse, the ominous Ms Cowper and a rather rebellious washing machine! Chaos erupts as mistaken identities, frantic cover-ups, and rapid-fire misunderstandings spiral out of control. With doors slamming, secrets spilling, and an endless parade of outrageous characters, no one is safe from the madness. Filled with Cooney’s trademark witty dialogue, lightning timing, and an avalanche of comic twists, Cash On Delivery promises a night of unrelenting fun and pure theatrical escapism. You will be holding your sides for dear life!

Newbury Corn Exchange, Sherlock Holmes: The Hunt for Moriarty, 27th to 28th January
London, 1901. As the British Empire wages war in the name of a Queen whose health is failing, a series of mysterious events reveal a crack in the high corridors of power. A crack that threatens to destabilise monarchy, government and empire. And at its centre, controlling the flow of information and influence, a shadowy figure plans a final deadly move. Drawn into the game and unsure who to trust, Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson find themselves confronting figures from their past in a desperate race against time, aware that the most powerful person in the world could be in the pocket of one of the most corrupt. But just how much is Holmes willing to sacrifice as he faces ‘checkmate’? A thrilling adventure based on the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes: The Hunt for Moriarty is a world premiere combining powerful performances, a haunting soundscape and innovative design for an exhilarating theatrical experience.
NT Connections: Fishville, 24th to 25th February
Connections is the National Theatre’s annual, nationwide youth theatre festival championing the talent of young people from across the UK. Each year the National Theatre commissions new plays for young people to perform, bringing together some of the UK’s most exciting writers with the theatre-makers of tomorrow. This year’s production is Fishville by Afsaneh Gray. The story starts when a young man named Jared takes to the sea in swimming gear but never starts swimming… His death, which follows on from the unexpected sale of his parents’ house, throws the community into chaos. When the daughter of the man who bought Jared’s house arrives in Saltwell and finds a severed foot washed up at her feet, she and the daughter of the ‘second homers’ decide to investigate what drove Jared into the sea.
The Makings of a Murderer: The Undercover Detective, 26th February
Join Peter Bleksley, a founding member of Scotland Yard’s undercover unit and former star of Channel 4’s Hunted, as he lifts the lid on the most dangerous and hidden aspects of murder investigations. From the gritty realities of infiltrating criminal gangs to his own terrifying experience of becoming the target of a murder plot, Peter shares the untold stories of the most high-stakes cases. For over a decade, Peter worked undercover, posing as everything from drug dealers to contract killers. His double life gave him access to the darkest corners of humanity, uncovering secrets that would save lives – but at the cost of his own safety. Forced into witness protection by an FBI-uncovered assassination plot, his career as a detective came to an abrupt end, leaving him with chilling memories of murderers and the justice system that hunts them. Prepare for an unforgettable evening of true crime as Peter Bleksley reveals the harrowing reality behind solving murders and battling the criminal underworld. This is crime-fighting as you’ve never seen it before.
1984, 4th March
Known for their ingenious sets and slick storytelling, Box Tale Soup’s unique puppetry becomes a striking metaphor for Orwell’s chilling vision of power and control. The year is 1984, perhaps – it is impossible to tell for certain. We are being watched, Big Brother is everywhere, truth changes daily, and everyone conforms. But for Winston Smith, an insignificant cog in the Party’s vast machine, this half-life is not enough. He dreams of freedom, but is he the only one? Dreams can be deadly when rebellion begins with a thought. Featuring the voices of Sophie Aldred and Joanna Lumley, with Simon Russell Beale as the voice of Big Brother.
The Gruffalo’s Child, 13th to 15th March
Follow the Gruffalo’s Child on her adventurous mission in Tall Stories’ enchanting adaptation of the much-loved picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. One wild and windy night, the Gruffalo’s Child ignores her father’s warnings about the Big Bad Mouse and tiptoes out into the deep dark wood. She follows snowy tracks and encounters mysterious creatures – but the Big Bad Mouse doesn’t really exist… does he?

Amateur theatre

Kennet Opera, Susannah, 30th January to 1st February
We’re offering a rare chance to see Susannah by ‘the father of American opera’ Carlisle Floyd. Based on the biblical tale of Susanna and the Elders, it’s reset in New Hope Valley in rural Tennessee, against the backdrop of a 1950s church revival meeting. It is the story of a young and innocent woman falsely accused of immorality by her village neighbours — god-fearing, revivalist, and also lascivious and vengeful. Susannah is one of the most-performed American operas of all time. With a dramatic plot, reflecting the febrile atmosphere of anti-commmunist witch hunts, it’s a dramatic two-acter packed with great music, and not to be missed.