Berkshire

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Yasemin-Özdemir-Max-Gill-and-Mae-Munuo.jpg" alt="charleys aunt watermill theatre" class="wp-image-82942" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Yasemin-Özdemir-Max-Gill-and-Mae-Munuo.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Yasemin-Özdemir-Max-Gill-and-Mae-Munuo-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Yasemin-Özdemir-Max-Gill-and-Mae-Munuo-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Yasemin-Özdemir-Max-Gill-and-Mae-Munuo-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Yasemin-Özdemir-Max-Gill-and-Mae-Munuo-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: Mark Senior</figcaption></figure>



Waxed ankles, Sam Smith, and tea well and truly spilled. <a href="https://www.watermill.org.uk/events/charleys-aunt" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Charley&#8217;s Aunt</a> (by Brandon Thomas) first strutted onto the West End scene way back in 1892, eventually setting a record for the longest-running play in London at the time. So, to say it was due a modern revival is the understatement of the century. No better person to whip the trailblazing comedy into 21st century shape than the incomparable Rob Madge &#8211; the award-winning creator of My Son’s a Queer (But What Can You Do?).



In the past few years, we&#8217;ve seen a surge of West End shows that retell beloved classic novels or shows under a brazen modernist lens (think the award-winning Pride and Prejudice (Sort Of)). This Watermill Theatre production is very much cut from the same theatrical cloth. Cross-dressing, mistaken identities, double meanings, miscommunication &#8211; it has it all. It&#8217;s outlandish, wacky, and unapologetically camp. Try not to crease with laughter &#8211; I dare you.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Charleys-Aunt-by-Mark-Senior-1.jpg" alt="charleys aunt watermill theatre" class="wp-image-82935" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Charleys-Aunt-by-Mark-Senior-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Charleys-Aunt-by-Mark-Senior-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Charleys-Aunt-by-Mark-Senior-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Charleys-Aunt-by-Mark-Senior-1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Charleys-Aunt-by-Mark-Senior-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: Mark Senior</figcaption></figure>



Charley&#8217;s Aunt follows the story of two Oxford students, Jack Chesney and Charley Wykeham, as they plan their proposal to their beloveds, Amy Spettigue and Kitty Verdun. A chaperone is needed &#8211; cue Charley&#8217;s Aunt, aka Donna Lucia d’Alvadorez. However, with her arrival delayed, alternative plans are made involving a butler, a bonnet, and a fake identity. Let the comical chaos commence.



Starting as strong as it finishes, expect a smattering of modern phrases peppered throughout (fit, ick, and spilling the tea to name a few) and some hilarious references to Sam Smith&#8217;s Unholy, bringing it bang up to date for modern audiences. The opening sequence sees Amy (Mae Munuo) and Kitty (Yasemin Özdemir) receiving letters from their beaus which fully lean into the exaggerated romanticism of the era to hilarious effect. Slip in a regency equivalent of an unsolicited nude and you have pure comedic genius.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="2141" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Jonathan-Case-and-Benjamin-Westerby.jpg" alt="whats on watermill theatre" class="wp-image-82938" style="aspect-ratio:0.701;width:640px;height:auto" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Jonathan-Case-and-Benjamin-Westerby.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Jonathan-Case-and-Benjamin-Westerby-560x800.jpg 560w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Jonathan-Case-and-Benjamin-Westerby-701x1000.jpg 701w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Jonathan-Case-and-Benjamin-Westerby-280x400.jpg 280w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Jonathan-Case-and-Benjamin-Westerby-768x1096.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Jonathan-Case-and-Benjamin-Westerby-1076x1536.jpg 1076w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Jonathan-Case-and-Benjamin-Westerby-1435x2048.jpg 1435w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: Mark Senior</figcaption></figure>



The women in this production take far more of a leading role than the original (hallelujah) and the quality of the acting is just sublime. I genuinely don&#8217;t think I could pick a favourite. The bumbling back and forth between Jack (Benjamin Westerby) and Charley (Jonathan Case) was a particular highlight for me. Both were exceptional. They had the audience howling with laughter. As did Max Gill who plays Babbs (recently cast as Damian Hubbard for the upcoming Mean Girls UK tour). Their physical comedy was phenomenal. The stuffing of mayo-soaked fries in their gob and the tea scene were brilliant standouts. Just hilarious.



As for the set design, it&#8217;s beautifully contemporary and sets the scene perfectly. I couldn&#8217;t stop ogling the costumes either &#8211; also courtesy of Alex Berry. The oversized bows, frills, and pinstripes struck the impeccable balance between trendy yet traditional and was giving Bridgerton through and through.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1001" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Benjamin-Westerby-and-Max-Gill-by-Mark-Senior.jpg" alt="watermill theatre in newbury shows" class="wp-image-82933" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Benjamin-Westerby-and-Max-Gill-by-Mark-Senior.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Benjamin-Westerby-and-Max-Gill-by-Mark-Senior-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Benjamin-Westerby-and-Max-Gill-by-Mark-Senior-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Benjamin-Westerby-and-Max-Gill-by-Mark-Senior-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Benjamin-Westerby-and-Max-Gill-by-Mark-Senior-768x513.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: Mark Senior</figcaption></figure>



Themes around gender bending and performative social norms play a huge role in the show, and they couldn&#8217;t have cast someone better for the role of Babbs if they tried. The character&#8217;s identity is intentionally kept ambiguous which only added to the underlining commentary on gender politics. I loved how Rob still managed to make a statement on queer identity amid the farcical mayhem. It&#8217;s powerful stuff.



Ultimately, this is such a triumph of a show that couldn&#8217;t have received a better reception from the audience. We were lapping it up. It&#8217;s witty, it&#8217;s stylish, and it&#8217;s just bloomin&#8217; funny to be honest. The Watermill Theatre is no stranger to putting on award-winning productions. Charley&#8217;s Aunt will undoubtedly be another one for the books. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1001" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Charleys-Aunt-by-Mark-Senior-3.jpg" alt="watermill theatre newbury" class="wp-image-82937" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Charleys-Aunt-by-Mark-Senior-3.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Charleys-Aunt-by-Mark-Senior-3-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Charleys-Aunt-by-Mark-Senior-3-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Charleys-Aunt-by-Mark-Senior-3-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/Charleys-Aunt-by-Mark-Senior-3-768x513.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: Mark Senior</figcaption></figure>



Good for:&nbsp;Feel-good fun seekers! This is pure escapism in every sense of the word. It&#8217;s unabashedly queer, bold, and one of the funniest shows I&#8217;ve seen in a long time.



Not for: Leave the littlies at home. There are a few F bombs flying around and age guidance suggests this is suitable for those 12 and over. 



Grab your tickets to see <a href="https://www.watermill.org.uk/events/charleys-aunt" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Charley&#8217;s Aunt</a> at The Watermill Theatre in Bagnor, <a href="https://www.watermill.org.uk/events/charleys-aunt" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. Prices from £20. On now until 15 Nov.



Words by Ellie Ball



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



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Review: Charley’s Aunt at The Watermill Theatre

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