A concert performance in The Watermill Gardens
At the ‘Time of the Very Beginnings’ the land is bustling with beasts, the sky is filled with birds and the ocean is teeming with fish. But there is one small problem: all the animals look the same!
The wise ‘Eldest Magician’ sends them out into the world to find their individuality. Everything is just so until Pau Amma the Crab starts playing with the ocean, causing terrible floods that put the other animals in danger. The brave Elephant's Child embarks on a journey to challenge and overcome Pau Amma, but can she do it alone?
This wondrous family musical blends five of Rudyard Kipling’s Just So stories to tell a tale of courage, friendship and the power of an individual to make a difference.
A spirited semi-staged concert that will take you back to nature this summer, join us for a song-filled journey through the jungle in the relaxed atmosphere of The Watermill gardens.
See more production photos from the show here
Book & Lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, the award-winning team behind Honk!, Betty Blue Eyes and the stage version of Mary Poppins.
Originally produced by CAMERON MACKINTOSH
Performed by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe) Limited.
Running time: approximately 2 hours including 20 minute interval
Age Guidance: 8+
Unfortunately we cannot admit children aged 3 and under except for the Relaxed Performance on Saturday 21 August at 2pm. Please call the Box Office on 01635 46044 to book tickets for the Relaxed Performance.
Tickets: £25 per person
All performances take place outside in The Watermill garden. All seating is socially distanced, with aisles and space between reserved seating areas.
Book an individual seat, or select a table for two, four or six people. Best availability is for tables of 4. All seats at a table must be purchased in a single transaction.
All seating areas on the lawn are wheelchair accessible, although tables near the path (beside the exit) may be more convenient. Please refer to the online seating plan or call the Box Office for guidance.
Aged 18–30 years? Limited number of £15 ‘Solo’ seats available for every performance (usually £25).
Enter the promotion code GAR15 to claim £15 tickets. Select a yellow seat on the seating plan and the offer will be applied at the final stage of the checkout journey. (Offer applies to single seats only, £15 tickets are not available on table seating. Proof of age may be required.)
Accessible Performances
Audio Described performance: Saturday 4 September at 2pm, Touch Tour at 12.30pm.
To reserve a headset for the performance and to book your tickets, please contact the Box Office on 01635 46044.
Relaxed performance: Saturday 21 August at 2pm.
To book tickets for the performance, please contact the Box Office on 01635 46044.
We have taken steps to ensure a comfortable and relaxed environment for all, and welcome you to make use of the grounds to move around or take a break during performances should you need to.
The Great Outdoors
This performance takes place outside and will go ahead whatever the weather. Seats in the garden are uncovered, so we recommend you bring appropriate clothing. You may also wish to bring a cushion and blankets.
Dine at The Watermill
Make the most of your time at The Watermill with a pre-show two course meal, or perhaps indulge in a cream tea after the matinée. Visit our Food & Drink page for more information.
A Just So themed children's menu is available - 2 courses and a drink for £12.50!
Please note: Only food and drink purchased at The Watermill may be consumed on the premises. Unfortunately, picnics are not permitted.
Social Distancing and Safety Measures
All current government guidelines apply throughout the season. There is limited access to indoor areas, with a one-way system and hygiene measures in place. Face coverings will be required in indoor spaces, unless exempt, and in some circumstances outdoors, depending on Government guidance at the time of the performance. Staff will wear face coverings when in close proximity, such as when checking tickets or serving food. For more information, read our FAQs.
Directed by Abigail Pickard Price
Set and Costume Design by Katie Lias
Choreography by Chi-San Howard
Musical Direction by Tarek Merchant
Lighting design by Harry Armytage
Sound Design by Sam Vincent
Assistant Director Priyal Patel Appleby
Design Assistant Louise Worrall
Watermill Sound Associate Tom Marshall
Show Musical Director Dan de Cruz
Audio Described by Jenny Stewart-Cosgrove
Deputy Stage Manager Alex Berridge-Schuter
Assistant Stage Manager Natalie Toney
Work Placement Assistant Stage Manager Ella Godbold-Holmes
Sound Number One Kieran McGuire
Sound Number Two Thom Townsend
Laura Andresen GuimarĂ£es
Zebra
Laura is a recent graduate of the Actor-Musician course at Guildford School of Acting. She also trained at Tring Park Performing Arts and The National Youth Choir. She is thrilled to be making her professional debut at The Watermill Theatre.
Credits while training: Richard III, Spend Spend Spend, The Cherry Orchard, Henry V, Glengarry Glen Ross.
Other credits include: The Clockmaker’s Daughter (Cadogan Hall); One Young World Choir (Royal Albert Hall); National Youth Training Choir Soloist (Royal Festival Hall, RWCMD); BBC1’s Pitch Battle and Carly Paoli: Live at Cadogan Hall (Cadogan Hall).
Alexander Bean
Rhino
New to The Watermill, Alexander Bean is an experienced actor-musician trained at Rose Bruford College.
Theatre credits include: Teddy (Southwark Playhouse); Cinderella, Summer Holiday, Gulliver’s Travels (Octagon Theatre Bolton); Robin Hood, Aladdin (Leeds City Varieties); The Crucible (Pitlochry Festival Theatre).
Alexander has voiced a range of adverts, campaigns, trailers and video games and most recently can be heard on Good Morning Britain (ITV).
Twitter: @MrAlexanderBean
Nathanael Campbell
Eldest Magician
Theatre credits include: Come From Away (West End and the Abbey Theatre, Dublin) – Stage Debut Award Nominee for Best West End Debut; Guys & Dolls (Talawa, Royal Exchange); Sunny Afternoon (Sonia Friedman Productions, UK Tour); Somewhere In England (Eastern Angles Theatre Company); All That Lives (Ovalhouse Theatre); When Blair Had Bush & Bunga (Bob & Co, Lee Menzies); We Raise Our Hands In The Sanctuary (Inky Cloak, Albany Theatre); Romeo & Juliet (Custom/Practice, UK Tour).
Television credits include: West Side Story (Reef TV/BBC)
Kemi Clarke
Leopard
Kemi is a 2021 Actor-Musician graduate from Rose Bruford College, making his professional theatre debut in Just So.
Credits while training include: Working, The Magic Tower, The Aliens.
Dan De Cruz
Parsee Man / Jaguar /Show MD
Dan gained a BMus (Hons) from the University of Surrey before training on the post-graduate course at Guildford School of Acting. Dan has worked extensively around the UK as a Musical Director.
Watermill credits include: Kiss Me, Kate.
Credits as MD include: Little Red Riding Hood (City Varieties Music Hall); Jack and the Beanstalk (Mercury Theatre); Return to the Forbidden Planet (Eastbourne Theatres); Our Blue Heaven (New Wolsey Theatre); Justin’s Band (UK Tour); Jackie The Musical (UK Tour); Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin (Queen’s Theatre); Made In Dagenham (Queen’s Theatre, New Wolsey Theatre).
Theatre credits include: Benny and the Greycats (workshop); Seussical the Musical; Chicago; The Wedding Singer; On The Streets; Little Shop of Horrors; The Dracula Spectacular; Back to the 80's; The Pirates of Penzance; Annie; Guys and Dolls; The Wizard of Oz; Jesus Christ Superstar; Joseph; Oliver; The Mikado; A Christmas Carol; Captain Noah; The Evacuees and Sago The Clown; Sinbad, Made In Dagenham, Sweet Charity, Beauty and the Beast, Dick Whittington, Mods and Rox (New Wolsey); Lemon - The Musical (Arts Theatre); The Man Who Stole The Circus (Isis Theatre); Run For Your Wife, They're Playing Our Song (Queen's Theatre); Cinderella, Aladdin (City Varieties Music Hall); Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet (Stafford Castle); Buddy Vs The Killer (Raffles, Singapore); Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood (Theatre Clwyd); My Fair Lady, West Side Story (Aberystwyth Arts Centre); Dawlish Road (Soho Theatre); The Far Pavilions, Time's Up (Shaftesbury Theatre); FAME (Palladium).
Emma Jane Morton
Giraffe / Yellow Dingo Dog
Emma Jane trained at The Arden School of Theatre, Manchester.
Watermill credits include: Camelot, Sweet Charity.
Theatre credits include: Amelie (UK Tour and The Other Palace); Keep the Home Fires Burning (Tour); Crazy for You (UK Tour); Two Petite Pantos (Drayton Arms Theatre/Brighton Fringe); Honk! (Union Theatre); Dick Whittington, Aladdin (Key Theatre); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Windsor Castle); The Leader of the Pack (Waterloo East Theatre); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Open Air Theatre at The Savill Garden); Cabaret (The MAC, Belfast); Blonde Bombshells of 1943 (Upstairs at the Gatehouse); Save the Last Dance for Me (UK Tour); Dreamboats & Petticoats (UK Tour).
Other credits include: Amelie cast recording; commercials for Skoda and Britain’s Got Talent; Rock and Roll Revolution (UK tour); Two Singular Sensations (UK tour); Theatre In Education tour (Blue Box Entertainment); various corporate gigs with The Bluejays.
Website: www.access-uk.com
Emma Lucia
Kolokolo Bird
Emma trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, where she was awarded the Laurence Olivier Bursary and graduated with a First Class BA (Hons).
Theatre credits include: Once (UK Tour, New Wolsey Theatre, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch); How We Begin (King’s Head Theatre); Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (UK Tour); workshops including The Throwaways (The Other Palace), Saint George and the Dragon (NT Studio) and Connections (NT Studio).
Peter Mooney
Kangaroo / Cooking Stove
Peter trained at Rose Bruford College.
Watermill credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth (UK Tour); Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet.
Theatre credits include: The Show Must Go On; Dick Whittington (Clwyd Theatr Cymru); Once (New Wolsey Theatre); The Commitments (West End and UK Tour); Save + Quit (New Theatre Dublin); Eye of the Storm (Theatr na nÓg); The Ballad of Rudy (Goblin Theatre).
Eleanor Kane
Elephant Child
Eleanor trained at Rose Bruford College.
Theatre credits include: High Fidelity (Turbine Creative); The Duchess of Malfi (Royal Lyceum Theatre, Citizens Theatre); Fun Home (Young Vic); Billionaire Boy (Nuffield Southampton Theatres).
'Wonderful storytelling and the lightest family-friendly touch..'
WhatsOnStage
'What Just So Stories would’ve looked like had Pixar adapted it into a musical...fun for adults and anyone with an interest in musicals'
Wokingham Today
'So much more than a concert'
Musical Theatre Review
'Charming and fun... Just So is just so enjoyable'
Newbury Theatre