First look: Go into rehearsals for Whistle Down The Wind at Watermill Theatre

Here’s a first look inside the rehearsal room of The Watermill’s revival of Whistle Down The Wind.

The first major UK revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman’s 1996 rock musical since 2010 will play the Newbury venue from Friday 22 July until Saturday 10 September.

Directed and choreographed by Tom Jackson Greaves, the production will feature a company of actor musicians alongside a cast of talented local young people.

America, 1959. Change is in the air. The post war boom is thriving, the civil rights movement is growing and the golden age of television has begun. But, on a farm in rural Louisiana three children are hoping for a miracle.

When Swallow, a teenager struggling to come to terms with the death of her mother, discovers a man hiding out in the family barn she becomes convinced he is Jesus. In a town where the community will do anything to defend their way of life, the children unite to protect their saviour. As fantasy and reality collide, Swallow begins to discover who she is and what it means to grow up.

On the cast, Chrissie Bhima will play Candy, Lewis Cornay as Amos, Lloyd Gorman as Boone, Charlotte Grayson as Ensemble, Jerome Lincoln as Ed, Elliot Mackenzie as Snake Preacher/Minister/Show MD, Emma Jane Morton as Ensemble, Alfie Richards as Earl, Robert Tripolino as The Man, Toby Webster as Sheriff, Lydia White as Swallow, Stephanie Elstob as Mother.

The creative team is completed by Simon Kenny as Designer, Stuart Morley as Musical Supervisor and Arrangements, George Francis as Musical Director, Andrew Exeter as Lighting Designer, Yvonne Gilbert as Sound Designer, Nandi Bhebhe and Annie Southall as Assistant Directors, Rose Burston as DSM, Caitlin Ravenscroft and Natalie Toney as ASM, Chloe Robson as Placement ASM and Audio Description by Jenny Stewart-Cosgrove.

About the author: Josh Darvill

Josh is Stageberry's editor with over five years of experience writing about theatre in the West End and across the UK. Prior to following his passion for musicals, he worked for more than a decade as a TV journalist.