How did Propeller Theatre Company come about?
We did a production of Henry V at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury five years ago. It was wacky and we all enjoyed it so much, we decided to do it again and then again and again. We became a cooperative. One of our company, Jonathan McGuinness, came up with the name Propeller. It suggests movement and we liked that. Why is Propeller all-male? Because that’s how Shakespeare’s plays were written. Our productions are a fusion between traditional and contemporary aesthetics. We perform the plays in the way that Shakespeare would have, with populist appeal and using cultural references that we understand today. What is so special about the Watermill Theatre in Newbury? Jill Fraser at the Watermill is single-handedly responsible for me doing Shakespeare. Period. She’s the first person who let me, with a production of Othello eight years ago. Jill creates an environment where people can go and develop their craft. She’s absolutely brilliant at helping people find their own voices; she’s certa
