The Watermill Theatre’s Christmas show, The Borrowers, Mary Norton’s classic adventure story, runs from 16 November to 31 December. This adaptation by Theresa Heskins will be performed by actor-musicians with a new score composed by Tarek Merchant. The cast includes Anna Fordham (Rich William/Eggletina), Frazer Hadfield (Boy), Natasha Karp (Mrs Driver), Ed MacArthur (Crampfurl/Spiller), Nenda Neurer (Arrietty), Matthew Romain (Pod) and Charlotte Workman (Homily).
The Clock family live under the floorboards of a large country house. Resourceful, clever and just four inches tall, Pod, Homily and their intrepid daughter Arrietty, have their lives thrown into peril when Arrietty ventures out into the big blue-skied world and is spotted by a ‘human bean’.
The final show in The Watermill’s 50th anniversary year, The Borrowers is directed by the theatre’s Artistic Director, Paul Hart. It is designed by Toots Butcher, lighting is by George Seal with movement by Tom Jackson Greaves.
There is a relaxed performance of The Borrowers on Saturday 9 December at 2.30pm, an audio described performance and touch tour on Saturday 2 December and sign integrated performance on Wednesday 13 and Saturday 16 December at 2.30pm. Tickets available from the box office on 01635 46044.
Anna Fordham - Rich William/Eggletina
Anna trained at Rose Bruford College
Theatre includes: Fantastic Mr Fox (Lyric Hammersmith/Leicester Curve/NST/UK Tour); Foreverland (Theatre 503); Urinetown (Stratford Circus); In the Land of the Digital Natives (University of East London); The Odyssey Experience (Experiential Theatre Company); The Merchant of Venice, My Marriage Is...(Rose Bruford College).
Television includes: Nyela’s Dream (Pilot). Radio includes: The Return of the Native
Frazer Hadfield – Boy
Frazer trained at the Oxford School of Drama graduating in 2016 and recently made his professional stage debut in the West End production of The Girls.
Credits while training include: Flashes, Measure for Measure, Time and the Conways and Into the Woods.
Natasha Karp – Mrs Driver
Natasha trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
Theatre credits include: Company and u/s Soraya and Mrs Nguyen in The Kite Runner (Wyndham’s Theatre); Company and u/s all female roles in Into the Woods (Menier Chocolate Factory); Dormouse/Duchess/Rabbit’s Housekeeper in Alice in Wonderland (Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage); Alysha/Heather in American Idiot (Arts Theatre); OCD Girl in The Theory of Relativity (Drayton Arms); Featured Ensemble/Dance Captain in The Grand Tour (Finborough); Nazirah in The Road to Qatar (Aria Entertainment); Jeanette in 3 Composers, 3 Countries (Relative Motion); The Canterbury Tales (Worcester Rep Company); Girl in Market Boy (The Lost Theatre Co).
Ed MacArthur - Crampfurl/Spiller
Theatre includes: Murder For Two (Watermill Theatre); Swansong (New Diorama Theatre, Dugout Theatre Company); Camelot: The Shining City (Slung Low and Sheffield Theatres); Arcadia (English Touring Theatre/ATG UK Tour); The Life of Stuart: Backwards (HighTide Festival); London Road (Bristol Old Vic Studio). Bristol Old Vic Theatre School productions include: Salad Days 60th Anniversary Concert, London Road, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Merchant of Venice.
Writer and performer: Stack (Dugout Theatre Company); Inheritance Blues (Soho Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse, DugOut Theatre Company).
Comedy includes: Stackard Banks is Self-Discovered - Writer; HMS Ship - various parts/writer. Radio:15 Minutes Live (Slung Low).
Nenda Neurer – Arrietty
Nenda trained at Rose Bruford College
Theatre credits at Rose Bruford include: El Gritto Cel Bronx (Sarah), Cigarettes & Moby Dick (Miranda), Island Song (Liz), The Seagull (Maid/Narrator), Titus Andronicus (Tamora), Never Whistle While You’re Pissing (Minerva), The Cherry Orchard (Anya), Activism (Raven); Vittoria in The White Devil (The Globe); Abby/Ensemble in We Need To Talk About Britain (Theatre Centre); Ensemble in Kevin Spacey Gala (Old Vic); Annabella in The 39 Steps and Janey in Under The Concrete, Waiting (Alra North).
Matthew Romain – Pod
Matthew trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Theatre includes: Pride and Prejudice (Nottingham Playhouse/Theatre Royal York); Sleeping Beauty (Watermill Theatre); The Inn at the Lydda (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse); The Delicate Art of Keeping in Touch (Lion and Unicorn Theatre); Hamlet (The Globe – 2 year world tour); Twelfth Night (Orange Tree Theatre); King Lear and Hamlet (The Globe); The Recruiting Officer (Donmar Warehouse); See How They Run, Privates on Parade, My Fair Lady, Trelawny of the Wells (Pitlochry Theatre); Onassis (London West End/Derby); The Shape of Things (Arts Theatre London).
Film: Blue Iguana (UK Film Studios). TV: Sherlock Holmes (BBC).
Charlotte Workman – Homily
Theatre credits include: Fantastic Mr Fox (Lyric Hammersmith); The Twits (Curve & Rose Theatre, UK Tour); Brief Encounter (Torch Theatre); Once Upon a Christmas (The Unicorn); The Dragon & Fuente Ovejuna (Tangram Theatre Company); A Christmas Carol (The Dukes, Lancaster); A Spell of Cold Weather(Lyric Belfast); All Join In and Charlotte's Web (Polka Theatre); A Christmas Carol (Strangeface Theatre Company). TV credits include: Doctors (BBC).
