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All or Nothing: The Experience

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:37:09 GMT

Rock Legend Steve Marriott and Small Faces to Feature in New Biopic All Or Nothing

We’re excited to share that the story of Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Steve Marriott and his iconic 1960s band Small Faces will be brought to the big screen in the upcoming music biopic All Or Nothing , showing at Watersmeet Theatre on 1 May .

Marriott, who once nearly formed a band with his friend David Bowie , became a MOD style icon, and Small Faces scored a string of hits, evolving from rock and roll to psychedelic sounds. Early members included Marriott, Ronnie Lane, Kenney Jones, and Jimmy Winston, with Ian McLagan joining in 1966. After Marriott left in 1969 to form Humble Pie, the remaining members continued as Faces, joined by Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood . Later in life, Marriott stepped away from the mainstream music scene and major record labels, living in relative obscurity until his tragic death at age 44 in a house fire.

The film tells the story through the eyes of a young female fan, whose lifelong devotion to the band and its charismatic frontman reveals both the glamour and struggles of Marriott’s life. As the narrative unfolds, viewers witness the complexities behind the showman’s public persona. The vulnerability, private turmoil, and sharp humour that defined him.

The screenplay, written by actress and writer Carol Harrison (The Elephant Man), is based on her West End musical All or Nothing. Harrison, who met Marriott at age eight, drew inspiration from her friendship with him and conversations with his family, including daughter Mollie Marriott . The film will be directed by BAFTA-winner Adrian Shergold (Funny Cow), and produced by Harrison’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Productions alongside Mark Vennis of Moviehouse Entertainment. Executive producers include Charles Ledigo and Gary Phillips, with Moviehouse handling sales.

The production has the blessing of the Marriott and Lane Estates, and is scheduled to begin filming in autumn

2026. Small Faces’ iconic back catalogue will serve as the film’s soundtrack.

Producers describe All or Nothing as “an authentic, passionate and insightful depiction of one of the most unique and influential UK bands of the 60s, a classic rock ‘n’ roll tale of fame, exploitation, and the fight to establish their own sound. At its heart, it is a tender, bittersweet love story set against the rebellious 1960s, amid a cultural uprising and shifting social landscape.”

Harrison said: “I am very excited to have Adrian Shergold, one of Britain’s premier directors, on board. I can think of no one better to bring the story to life with compassion and integrity, delivering the film’s grit, humour, excitement, and sartorial elegance.”

Shergold added: “I am a passionate fan of the Small Faces and that era. Carol’s screenplay showed me that this could be a music film with a difference. It has contemporary resonance, the perspective of a female fan, the lows of dealing with fame at such young ages, and the drama of corrupt management. It’s very exciting.”

Read the full article on Deadline .

Draw, Laugh, Create

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 11:23:28 GMT

Comic Book Fun Comes to Watersmeet!

This October half term, something exciting lands in Rickmansworth for the very first time! Watersmeet is thrilled to welcome comic book legend Kev F Sutherland for a one-of-a-kind Comic Art Masterclass, a fun, fast-paced workshop where kids (and grown-ups!) learn how to create their own comic strips from scratch.

Kev, best known for his work with The Beano, Doctor Who, and Marvel Comics, brings years of comic storytelling brilliance, along with his signature wit, to inspire the next generation of artists and writers.

Participants will take home a comic featuring the whole class’s work and a personal caricature drawn by Kev himself – a perfect memento of a laughter-filled day.

Spaces are limited, so book early to secure your place at this creative half-term highlight! Find out more.

A Question of Duty premieres at Watersmeet

watersmeet@threerivers.gov.uk (Watersmeet Theatre) — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 15:58:40 GMT

The story of General Eisenhower’s private train

Play features the grandfather of local café owner

A two-act play, which tells the story of General Eisenhower’s private train in World War Two, and features the grandfather of a Rickmansworth café owner had its premiere in the town on Friday 25July.

The premiere at the Watersmeet Theatre in Rickmansworth saw a standing ovation for the actors and for playwright Gary Tippings, writer and producer of ‘A Question of Duty’ which is his first stage play.

It tells the story of the relationship between General Eisenhower, Sgt Albert Phillips who ran the train and Kay Summersby, Eisenhower’s aide.

Summersby and Eisenhower had an extremely close relationship as witnessed by Albert. Some have suggested a sexual relationship between the two, although people who knew both of them at the time have rejected that claim, as have most of Eisenhower's biographers.

Keith Joyce, (54) the owner of Katie’s Café at Rickmansworth station, which serves hundreds of passengers every day, spent years researching the life of his late Grandfather Albert, and Kay, who were both permanently assigned to the General’s mobile command train as it crossed the UK and Europe.

Looking through family archives, Keith realised that there was an amazing story to be told about Albert and his close relationship with Eisenhower, which had been hidden due to the secret nature of the operation. And that this story would make a great film and play.

Set in December 1944, ‘A Question of Duty’ takes place aboard General Eisenhower’s mobile command train in the build-up to the final stages of World War II. The play follows a critical 24-hour period as Eisenhower prepares for the next stage of the Allied advance, and responds to growing tensions with the Soviet Union. He is joined by Field Marshal Brooke, the Chief of the Imperial General Staff; Colonel Gault, a formal and rigid British Colonel; Kay Summersby, and Albert Phillips, the loyal British Sergeant assigned permanently to his secret train.

Whilst military plans are debated, the characters engage in private conversations that reveal the personal pressures behind public decisions. Kay must navigate the expectations of a male-dominated hierarchy while managing Eisenhower’s household and his emotional state. The play explores themes of command, discretion, gender, and class. Based on real people and events, it offers a contained, dialogue-driven examination of wartime leadership, and the often-overlooked roles of those who supported it from behind the scenes.

Keith said: “The more that I found out about my grandfather, the more I realised that there was a fantastic story to be told about him and his relationship, not only with the supreme allied commander but also with his other staff who worked on the train.”

Proud of his grandfather and what he had found out Keith spoke to his commuter customers daily as they set out for work in London. One day, an encounter with one of them resulted in a call from playwright Gary Tippings.

Gary said: “I got a call from a friend who had met Keith in the café and who was enthused by the story Keith told him and by his enthusiasm to get it out. We met and the rest is history.”

Gary added: “‘A Question of Duty’ is one of those plays set during the war that really surprises people, because it's not about battles or politics. It's about people. It's set in one railway carriage, over the course of one night, and what makes it so powerful is how much happens just in the conversations. There’s humour, warmth, moments of deep feeling; but all delivered in a very natural, often funny, and very relatable way, or so people tell me! You don't need to be a history buff or regular theatre-goer to enjoy this. If you've ever sat up late talking to someone, and suddenly found yourself saying things you didn't expect, you'll get this play.”

Gary said: “We’ve deliberately kept the production simple and intimate; no flashy staging, just really strong performances and a story that draws you in. We want people to feel like they're right there in the room with the characters. So, if you've never been to a play before, or think ‘serious’ theatre might not be your thing, this is actually the perfect one to try. It's not about big drama; it's about real people in a moment of change. And I promise - you'll leave, and still be thinking about it for a while.”

Keith said: “Gary has done a superb job in putting this play together and we are hoping that it will lead to other things happening in the future. The fact that it debuted in Rickmansworth is tremendous and Gary has plans to move it around the country.”

Gary said: “Rickmansworth is just the start, but it was fitting that it started in the town where Keith lives and where he carried out all the research.”

Talks are underway about a major film and a book about Albert and the train.

Full-Scale Production of Hamlet

watersmeet@threerivers.gov.uk (Watersmeet Theatre) — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 13:29:54 GMT

Coming to Watersmeet This October

A dark and atmospheric full-scale staging of Shakespeare’s Hamlet is set to come to Watersmeet on Tuesday 7 October 2025, delivering a powerful blend of ghostly intrigue, emotional depth, and thrilling action.

Set in the shadowy medieval court of Denmark, this timeless tale of love, revenge, and political ambition follows Prince Hamlet as he confronts the ghost of his murdered father. Thrust into a spiral of doubt, betrayal, and rage, Hamlet must navigate a perilous path between justice and madness.

“To be or not to be?” becomes more than a question - it becomes the heart of a kingdom in turmoil.

This is Hamlet as it was meant to be experienced: intimate, urgent, and unforgettable.

A traditional production that honours the original language and staging, it is particularly well-suited for students studying the text, offering a vivid and faithful interpretation that brings Shakespeare’s words to life on stage.

Find out more and book tickets

🎭 Curtain Up! Meet the Star-Studded Cast of This Year’s Panto

watersmeet@threerivers.gov.uk (Watersmeet Theatre) — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 11:23:50 GMT

Oh Yes They Are! The Cast of Beauty and the Beast Is Revealed

Watersmeet Theatre is thrilled to unveil the sensational cast set to dazzle audiences in Beauty and the Beast this Christmas! Packed with laughter, music, and festive fun, this year’s pantomime promises to be a spellbinding experience for the whole family.

Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards – Professor Crackpot

Returning to the stage by popular demand, Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards, Britain’s most beloved Olympian, takes flight once again. Famous for becoming the first Brit since 1928 to compete in ski-jumping at the 1988 Winter Olympics, Eddie won hearts worldwide. Since then, he’s smashed records, won Splash!, competed on The Jump, The Masked Dancer, and Dancing on Ice, and inspired millions through the hit film Eddie the Eagle (2016).

Ash Stevenson – Count & Beast

Ash brings charm and powerhouse vocals as the Beast. With vast panto experience, Ash has played the Prince in Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. His credits include All Together Now (BBC1), starring as Mark Owen in Rule the World, Judas in Godspell and James Bond in London Never Dies. His single Somebody with Sony Music Sweden has streamed in over 100 countries.

Charlotte Castle – Belle

Charlotte makes her Watersmeet debut as Belle. A talented performer, she trained at Emil Dale Academy, Laine Theatre Arts, and graduated from Performers College Essex. She’s wowed audiences as Eliza in We’ll Meet Again (UK tour), Belle in Beauty and the Beast (Vietnam), Aladdin and Sweeney Todd Medley.

Bunny Galore – Dame

Bunny Galore returns for a third year, bringing glitz, giggles, and glamour. Known for Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalists Dame Nation and with 21 pantos to her name, Bunny promises to delight with her towering headdresses and iconic handbags!

Stevi Ritchie – Gaston

Stevi rose to fame on The X Factor 2014, mentored by Simon Cowell, and went on to star in Celebrity Big Brother 2015. He’s released hit singles and toured the UK with his one-man band, theatre shows and pantos. This year, he’s ready to scare and charm as the villainous Gaston!

Natalie Law – Mauvais

Natalie joins the cast with extensive theatre credits including Leopoldstadt (West End), Exit The King (National Theatre), Ink (Almeida/Sonia Friedman), and Beautiful Thing (UK tour). On screen, she has appeared in EastEnders, Doctors, The Choice and The Critic.

Steve Best - Philippe Philoppe

Comedy dynamo Steve Best joins the cast, bringing his signature slapstick, gadgets, magic, and music. A favourite on stages worldwide, Steve’s TV appearances include The Big Stage, The Stand Up Show and Weapons of Mass Distraction.

Don’t miss this magical adventure!

Beauty and the Beast runs from 5-31 December at Watersmeet Theatre. Tickets are selling fast - book now for festive fun the whole family will love!

Junior dance auditions

watersmeet@threerivers.gov.uk (Watersmeet Theatre) — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 10:42:36 GMT

Junior Panto Dance Auditions at Watersmeet – Your Chance to Shine!

Watersmeet Theatre is excited to announce auditions for its Junior Panto Dance Teams for the 2025 season! Young dancers up to 12 years old have the opportunity to showcase their talent and be part of this magical theatrical production.

Date: Sunday, 22 June 2025

Location: Watersmeet Theatre, High Street, Rickmansworth, WD3 1EH

Registration: 10:00 AM

Auditions: 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to take centre stage and be part of a spectacular pantomime production at Watersmeet Theatre!

To register your interest please go to: watersmeet.co.uk/beauty-and-the-beast-auditions