The Watermill Theatre in Newbury has announced the four artists who will make up the second cohort of its talent development programme, Elemental. The venue, led by Joint CEOs Artistic Director Paul Hart and Executive Director Claire Murray, was recently named Theatre of the Year for the second time at the 2026 Stage Awards.
Elemental forms part of the theatre’s long‑term commitment to nurturing creatives across all disciplines. Supported by the Fenton Arts Trust, Garrick Charitable Trust, Noël Coward Foundation and individual donors, the programme offers emerging practitioners the opportunity to develop their craft, broaden their industry knowledge and strengthen their practice.
The 2026 cohort includes lighting designer Brett Kasza, set and costume designer Emily Nelson, actor‑musician and musical director Inés Ruiz, and Berkshire‑born director and writer Peter O’Connor‑Smart. Each artist will gain hands‑on experience working closely with the Watermill’s creative teams throughout the year.
 
 
 
 
Brett Kasza, who trained at Rose Bruford College and Sheridan College, said: “I am overjoyed to be a part of this year’s Elemental Artist Programme and deeply grateful for the opportunity the Watermill has created for early career artists like myself. Being selected for this programme is such an honour, and I am excited to share this experience alongside a talented group of artists who are also at the beginning of their professional journey. I am particularly looking forward to developing my understanding of production processes and gaining valuable insight into expanding my own creative practice from conception to performance.”
Emily Nelson, a Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama graduate, brings experience across theatre and film. Reflecting on her place in the cohort, she said: “Being a part of this year’s Elemental Artist cohort, I am looking forward to the opportunities of shadowing and being involved with the exciting designers and design team that create the wonderful productions at the Watermill, and also to connect and grow with the other disciplines that make up the cohort. Getting a chance to work and explore across creative roles makes this programme exciting and special.”
Actor‑musician Inés Ruiz, who trained at Rose Bruford College after a four‑year Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance, said: “For an actor-musician, the Watermill is a special place that symbolises craft, creativity, immersion and collaboration. I believe this programme will help me to keep nurturing my own practice. I am truly excited about the opportunity to work and learn from other artists, and I am looking forward to bringing my own creative energy to such an artistic and imaginative environment.”
Director and writer Peter O’Connor‑Smart, currently Resident Assistant Director at Polka Theatre, said: “I’m thrilled to have been selected as one of the Watermill’s 2026 Elemental Artists. Growing up near Newbury, the Watermill has long been a theatre I’ve felt a fond connection to; a well-timed school trip there as a teenager was a formative experience in shaping my desire to become a theatre maker. I’m excited to begin a new relationship with a theatre operating at the height of its creative ambitions, whose work brings musicality, craft, and imagination to both classic texts and new writing — something that feels incredibly aligned with my own practice. I’m particularly keen to develop my craft by learning from its artists, audiences, and community, and to contribute to a place that makes such generous, imaginative theatre.”
Announcing the cohort, Artistic Director Paul Hart said the year ahead includes new writing, a classic musical revival and the return of their adaptation of Pinocchio. He added that investing in early‑career talent remains central to the Watermill’s mission.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
 
 
 
 
