WORLD PREMIERE OF VICTORIA: A QUEEN UNBOUND ANNOUNCED OPENING AT THE WATERMILL

Fresh from being named Theatre of the Year at The Stage Awards 2026, the Watermill Theatre is delighted to announce the world premiere of Victoria: A Queen Unbound, a new play by Daisy Goodwin, creator of ITV’s Victoria. The production will run from Friday 27 March to Saturday 9 May, with a national press night on Tuesday 31 March at 7pm.

“Diaries survive while feelings slip away. They are the skeleton on which posterity puts flesh.”

Osborne House 1901. As Victoria faces the final days of her reign, she clings to her diaries, the carefully kept record of a life defined by love, duty and profound loss. Into this certainty comes her younger self, forcing the older Victoria to confront memories she’s chosen to bury and truths she’s chosen to forget.

Victoria and Albert are celebrated as one of history’s great love stories. A devoted marriage with nine children, and then a young widow dedicated to his memory. At least that is the version written down. But does writing something make it true? Looking back at a young queen, this new play tells the story of a woman pregnant for most of her 20s and 30s, gradually surrendering her strength and authority to her husband, and growing increasingly lonely in her crumbling marriage.

A world premiere, from Daisy Goodwin, the creator of the novel and ITV drama, Victoria, this new play offers a fresh perspective on one of history’s greatest monarchs.

Victoria: A Queen Unbound is written by Daisy Goodwin, the WGGB-award-nominated screenwriter, BAFTA-award-nominated television producer and best-selling novelist. Returning to the Watermill after their work on Charley’s Aunt will be director Sophie Drake (The Bleeding Tree – Stage Debut Award), set and costume designer Alex Berry (Intimate Apparel – WhatsOnStage Award Nomination), and lighting designer Ben Jacobs, (Oliver! - Olivier Award), and coming to the Watermill for the first time, is sound designer and composer Asaf Zohar (Ballet Shoes – Olivier Award Nomination).

Casting to be announced.

Paul Hart, Artistic Director and Joint CEO of the Watermill said, “Victoria: A Queen Unbound takes a look at one of the most famous relationships in history and takes us behind the veil as to what makes these extraordinary people tick. It’s an unflinching and deeply fascinating look at how a legacy is shaped and the joy, pain and manipulation of love. We couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with Daisy who knows more about this subject than anyone and to be staging the world premiere of this piece. We’re also thrilled to be welcoming back Sophie Drake after her recent production of Charley’s Aunt with us.”

Daisy Goodwin, Victoria: A Queen Unbound writer said, “When Albert died, Victoria said that he had done everything for her, ‘he even used to choose my bonnets’. That sentence got me thinking about their relationship. What kind of man picks out his wife’s hats, and why would any woman, let alone a Queen, allow her husband to choose her clothes? It made me wonder if Victoria’s diaries might be the work of an unreliable narrator. I am thrilled to be working with the super talented team at the Watermill, and to be bringing this brand-new take on a familiar theme to the stage."

Victoria: A Queen Unbound is presented in arrangement with Theatre Global.

http://www.theatreglobal.com/

The Stage Award for Theatre of the Year, this year jointly awarded to the Watermill Theatre and the Royal Court Theatre, recognises outstanding artistic ambition and excellence in British theatre. The announcement comes just two years after the Watermill Theatre was named Theatre of the Year at the Stage Awards in 2024, marking an exceptional period of sustained national recognition for the Newbury venue, in the wake of the loss of its full Arts Council funding in 2022.

Over the past year, the Watermill has delivered a critically acclaimed programme including Michael Morpurgo’s Pinocchio (listed in The Guardian’s Top 10 Theatre of 2024), Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s Autobiography of a Cad, an integrated-access production of Emil and the Detectives, an actor-musician staging of Piaf, Camille Ucan’s Three Hens in a Boat, and a record-breaking revival of Jesus Christ Superstar, which went on to win the UK Theatre Award for Best Musical Production, Rob Madge’s adaptation of Charley’s Aunt and the Watermill’s annual Christmas show The Little Mermaid.

Alongside its artistic output, the theatre reached over 15,500 participants across 1,010 outreach sessions, delivered 99 access performances reaching 419 service users, and provided 3,145 fully funded places through its engagement programmes.

Claire Murray, Executive Director and Joint CEO of the Watermill Theatre, said:

“To be named Theatre of the Year at the Stage Awards for the second time in two years is an extraordinary achievement, and one that reflects the care, ambition and collaboration that sits at the heart of everything we do at the Watermill. This recognition belongs to our artists, our staff, our freelancers and our audiences, and speaks to our shared commitment to making theatre that is artistically ambitious, welcoming and accessible to all.”

Joining the 2026 programme, which includes Two Halves of Guinness, Lark Rise To Candleford, Swallows and Amazons and the Watermill’s summer musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the most famous puppet in the world is returning to the Watermill Theatre in the musical adaptation of Pinocchio. Having played to packed audiences and been rated as one of The Guardian’s top 10 theatre shows in 2024, this timeless tale is back to offer a festive treat for the whole family.

Pinocchio is written by Michael Morpurgo and adapted by Simon Reade with music and lyrics by Chris Larner. It is directed by Indiana Lown-Collins and Elle While, with set and costume by Yoav Segal. Marc Parrett is puppet designer, maker and director and Jonathan Chan is lighting designer. Sound design is by Ella Wahlström, movement direction by Asha Jennings-Grant and Simon David is the musical supervisor.

Further information on Pinocchio and the productions completing the season will be announced later in the year.