Pinocchio company confirmed for return to the Watermill Theatre

Casting has been confirmed for Pinocchio at the Watermill Theatre.

Michael Morpurgo’s retelling returns to the Newbury theatre this festive season following a successful run in 2024, when it received a glowing five-star review from our WhatsOnStage critic. It will run from 25 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with a press night set for 28 November.

Returning to the family-friendly show will be Christopher Bianchi as Geppetto, Fred Double as Cricket, Eddy Payne as Cat, and Jacoba Williams as Carabiniere.

Joint CEOs, artistic director Paul Hart and executive director Claire Murray welcome Jax Guerrero as Pinocchio, James Hall as the onstage MD, Megan Keaveny as Good Fairy and onstage swing, and Polly Lister as Signora Geppetto and Fox.

Co-directors Indiana Lown-Collins and Elle While said: “We first brought you this production in 2024, and we’re so excited to bring it back. Pinocchio has everything from puppets made from household objects, songs from a range of genres and a sprinkling of magic (actual magic, woohoo)! It’s also a show that celebrates the craft of theatre, with an incredibly talented cast and creative team, bringing to life many different characters on Pinocchio’s journey. Audiences can expect to laugh, dance and be amazed, leaving energised with a warm feeling inside.”

Pinocchio is adapted by Simon Reade with music and lyrics by Chris Larner and will be co-directed by Lown-Collins and While. Yoav Segal is set and costume designer, Marc Parrett is puppet designer and maker, Jonathan Chan is lighting designer, Ella Wahlström is sound designer, Asha Jennings-Grant is movement director, Simon David is musical supervisor, John Bulleid is illusion designer and Brett Kasza is assistant lighting designer.

Casting is by Cydney Beech. The CSM is Cat Pewsey, the DSM is Fern Bamber, and the ASMs are Katie Crump and Sam Fuller. The Sound Number 1 is Rob Summers.