Watermill Theatre

In the rural countryside of West Berkshire, Watermill Theatre generates a year-round programme of new productions and reimagined classics. In 2025, the theatre staged a production of Jesus Christ Superstar, which demanded a high-performance sound system capable of delivering consistent coverage and vocal intelligibility at levels the theatre’s pre-existing system could not achieve. The Watermill’s unwavering dedication to exciting and accessible storytelling led the theatre to commission a significant and permanent EM Acoustics solution that would be able to meet the artistic and technical demands of this and all future productions.

At Watermill Theatre, the proximity of seating to the stage creates an intimate atmosphere between the audience and actors – one where intelligibility and impact are key to the immersive nature of performance in the venue. A high-energy production like Jesus Christ Superstar underpinned the need for a new audio solution to support the rock-driven musical intensity that the theatre’s team imagined.

After consulting with a number of sound designers, Watermill selected a combination of EM Acoustics’ flagship Reference Series and EMS Series loudspeakers to make up the new system.

For the main system, a central R8 loudspeaker, two R6s on each level, and four R4s were strategically deployed to provide even coverage. Six R5s cover slip seating, with an additional six R5s covering all remaining audience areas. Two S18 subwoofers, one installed under a staircase and the other mounted on a perch, provide extra power for low frequencies. Twenty-four EMS51 boxes were installed for surround sound, whilst a floating stock of EMS-61s, EMS-41s, and EMS-81s offers flexibility to scale the system up or down depending on the needs of specific productions. EM Acoustics’ Di20D amplifiers provide power and seamless control over a Dante network.

Being an old watermill, traditional rigging points were simply not available. To combat this, the team opted for a system of compact loudspeakers widely distributed throughout the auditorium, maintaining both space efficiency and sonic clarity. Having used EM Acoustics loudspeakers previously, Watermill Theatre’s Technical Manager, Neil Starke, was confident that the manufacturer’s compact boxes would deliver the high level of audio clarity and performance that was required.

Although the theatre faced serious infrastructural challenges due to the lack of ready rigging options, the compact form factor of the EM Acoustics loudspeakers allowed a highly distributed system be integrated throughout the auditorium. EM Acoustics equipment possesses legendary levels of headroom, even in their smaller boxes, and thus audio coherence, impact and intelligibility were maximised while preserving the rather beautiful nature of the space.

Watermill Theatre’s investment in a complete EM Acoustics upgrade has provided the venue with exceptional coherence, uniform and consistent coverage, and dynamic range that guarantees ongoing reliability and future scalability.

The 2025 production of Jesus Chris Superstar received outstanding reviews from audiences and critics alike, going on to win Best Musical Production in the UK Theatre Awards. The actor-musicians created a spectacular performance, with the EM Acoustics system ensuring that vocal coherence and musical impact were delivered throughout the auditorium despite the intensity of the rock instruments played live on stage. The system’s ability to handle high SPLs while maintaining clarity helped the performance achieve its full potential.

Beyond Jesus Christ Superstar, the new EM Acoustics solution has significantly reduced the time Watermill’s technical team spends battling the venue’s complex acoustics, allowing for more creative focus on mixing and designing shows.

A frequent sound designer for the Watermill, Tom Marshall, has praised EM Acoustics for revolutionising the audio experience at the venue, delivering a new level of depth, clarity and superior quality that exceeded expectations. The system’s flexibility has allowed Watermill Theatre to scale the audio system to meet the diverse requirements of different productions, from intimate performances to larger-scale musicals. Critically, technical barriers to ambitious and far-sighted theatre programming have been removed.

At Watermill Theatre, where the unique aesthetic of the space works in tandem with the dedication to innovative storytelling, the installation of the EM Acoustics system sets a new precedent for theatre production quality. Since its debut, the EM Acoustics upgrade has received high praise from in-house engineers and visiting sound designers, providing a reliable foundation for future productions. The system ensures that Watermill Theatre can continue its celebration of talent and creativity amongst the company and community.