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Watermill Theatre Impact Report 2025/26: An Extraordinary Year

The Watermill Theatre's Impact Report 2025/26 describes an extraordinary year for the 200-seat theatre in rural West Berkshire, named Theatre of the Year for the second time in three years. More than 60,200 people attended its 7 productions, concerts and events, and over 345,000 people saw Watermill productions on tour. Its outreach programme delivered 18,777 engagements, it staged 49 accessible performances and worked with more than 2,000 local people with access needs through 255 bespoke workshops. The theatre generated £4.5 million in income, with 68% from ticket sales.

Report snapshot
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About

The Watermill Theatre is an independent charity and producing theatre in rural West Berkshire, receiving no statutory funding. It creates award-winning productions that tour nationally and internationally, and runs a wide outreach and community programme for schools, young people and people with access needs.

Key Metrics

18,777 engagements through the Outreach programme
60,200+ people attended Watermill productions, concerts and events
345,000+ people saw Watermill productions on tour

Key Outcomes

  • 49 accessible performances staged
  • More than 2,000 local people with access needs worked with through 255 bespoke workshops
  • 43 local schools enjoyed a performance at the Watermill

Geography

South East

Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
Total income £138,600,000 and total expenditure £108,350,000 (year ended 31 March 2025, charity no. 1068852); 5 million people welcomed through palace gates; £138.6m income...
Key Metric 2
Over 160,000 members making 300,000+ visits generating £5.8m membership income plus £814k Gift Aid; 217,400 £1 Universal Credit tickets sold; 304,000 visitors to Untold...
Key Metric 3
89% of visitors gained a better understanding of stories (discovery); 83% felt happier after their visit (joy); 76% were inspired to learn more; 28,365...
83% of visitors felt happier after their visit; 89% gained better understanding of palace stories; 94% charitable activities allocation of total expenditure; Tomorrow's Tower campaign secured £1.9m including £1m from Sandys Trust and National Lottery Heritage Fund development grant
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
3,943 young people reached across 279 learning sessions in 16 programmes; 46 public performances reaching 8,517 audience members
Key Metric 2
100+ Emerging Professionals supported with 159 paid performance opportunities; 32% from regions beyond London; 32% from African, Asian, Caribbean or Mixed Heritage backgrounds
Key Metric 3
46% of Under-18 participants receive bursaries; 46% benefit from free access (Pupil Premium, free school meals or low-income families)
Largest single concert audience of 1,500 for British Standard Time at Berlin's Konzerthaus; NYJO Under 18s alumni have gone on to Birmingham Conservatoire, Leeds Conservatoire and Cambridge University