Pinocchio casting confirmed for Watermill Christmas return

Jax Guerrero will play Pinocchio when Michael Morpurgo's retelling returns to the Watermill Theatre in Newbury for the festive season.

The production runs from 25 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with a press night set for 28 November, according to details confirmed on 22 September WhatsOnStage. It follows a run at the Berkshire venue in 2024.

Four performers from that staging are back. Christopher Bianchi returns as Geppetto, Fred Double returns as Cricket, Eddy Payne returns as Cat and Jacoba Williams returns as Carabiniere.

Guerrero leads the new company as the wooden puppet who wants to become a real boy. James Hall will be the onstage MD, meaning the musical director performing with the cast, while Megan Keaveny plays the Good Fairy and acts as onstage swing, an understudy covering several roles. Polly Lister plays Signora Geppetto and Fox.

What makes this stand out is the continuity. Bringing back four familiar faces gives returning families a link to the 2024 show, while a new Pinocchio puts a fresh centre on the story.

The show is adapted by Simon Reade, with music and lyrics by Chris Larner. It will be co-directed by Indiana Lown-Collins and Elle While. Casting is by Cydney Beech.

The design team includes Yoav Segal on set and costume, Marc Parrett as puppet designer and maker, Jonathan Chan on lighting and Ella Wahlström on sound. Asha Jennings-Grant is movement director, Simon David is musical supervisor, John Bulleid is illusion designer and Brett Kasza is assistant lighting designer.

Behind the scenes, Cat Pewsey is company stage manager, Fern Bamber is deputy stage manager, and Katie Crump and Sam Fuller are assistant stage managers. Rob Summers is Sound Number 1, the senior sound operator on the show.

The Watermill will also host a Pinocchio Family Fun Day on 27 October from 10:30am to 2pm Watermill Theatre.