South
Robin Strapp
The most outstanding production of the year was Lord of the Rings at the Watermill Theatre Newbury from the 25 July to 15 October.
This magical adaption takes place both in the beautiful gardens and then in the auditorium. It’s filled with musical adventures that encapsulated the stories of Tolkien’s ring cycle.
With a cast of 20 highly talented actor-musicians, an impressive set design, lighting and costumes this was an unmissable spectacular production.
Ad Infinitum’s If You Fall at the Corn Exchange Newbury on 8 June was a moving play exploring end-of-life care based on real-life personal testimonies. Theatre at its most powerful with a raw honesty gained from interviews with carers, patients and their relations.
With strong beautifully physical theatre, this was theatrical treat devised by a multi-generational company of six truly skilled performers exploring life in care homes today.
On a similar theme of growing old, Visitors at the Watermill Theatre Bagnor ran from 31 March until 22 April. The trials and tribulations of country life, dealing with dementia and the conflict between the older and younger generations within a family.
This was an uplifting, emotionally charged production that was simply outstanding.