Prior to embarking on a six-week national tour The Secret Adversary will receive its world stage première as part of the new season at Newbury's Watermill Theatre.
The new adaptation of Agatha Christie’s thriller is by Sarah Punshon and Johann Hari; it features the glamorous detective duo Tommy and Tuppence, who are also being brought to BBC television played by David Walliams and Jessica Raine.
Sarah Punshon will direct The Secret Adversary which has original music and musical arrangements by Alex Silverman.
Tuxedo Junction is a 1940s–set show with a cast of actor-musicians featuring classic songs from the period compiled by Simon Slater. These include "Chatanooga Choo Choo", "Take The A Train", "You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To" and "Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby".
Olivier Award nominated Simon Slater composed the scores for, amongst others, Constellations, ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore and James and the Giant Peach at the Watermill Theatre.
A classic of a different kind is Far From The Madding Crowd which has a run starting in mid-April.
Thomas Hardy’s novel has been adapted by Jessica Swale who will direct; Swale's credits include adapting and directing Sense and Sensibility at the Watermill Theatre. Her first full length play Blue Stockings premiered at Shakespeare’s Globe last year.
Far From The Madding Crowd has original music by Catherine Jayes.
Douglas Rintoul, whose Watermill credits include All My Sons and Of Mice and Men, will direct Rattigan's tale of infatuation and convention, The Deep Blue Sea, for the summer with A Little History Of The World closing the season.
A Little History Of The World is a stage adaptation by Toby Hulse of Ernst Gombrich's book covering the centuries from the big bang to the present day. It is directed by Paul Stacey and the production will tour regional halls and arts centres after its run at the Watermill.
- The Secret Adversary 12 February to 21 March
- Tuxedo Junction 31 March to 11 April
- Far From The Madding Crowd 16 April to 23 May
- The Deep Blue Sea 4 June to 4 July
- A Little History of the World 14 to 25 July