The Watch House

There's a legend about the Watch House... Scrape beneath the whitewash and you'll find terror. You'll find him.

Tynemouth, late 1970s. Christmas is coming and Front Street's swinging. But Anne, dumped here while her parents sort their divorce, isn't in the mood. She escapes to the castle, the Priory, and the beaches. Best of all, the Watch House. The old coastguard's place is packed with weird treasures and no one bothers her. Until lights start to flicker and something stirs in the dark nights...

Buried deep in the past is a secret which now threatens everything. Only Anne can stop it.

The Watch House is an epic new adaptation of Carnegie Medal-winner Robert Westall's original novel, from Olivier Award-winning theatre-maker Chris Foxon. This edition was published to coincide with the world premiere at Laurels Theatre in Whitley Bay, in December 2023.


About the Author

Robert Westall (1929 - 1993) was an English author and teacher known for fiction aimed at children and young people. Some of the latter cover complex, dark, and adult themes. He has been called "the dean of British war novelists". His first book, The Machine Gunners, won the 1975 Carnegie Medal for the year's outstanding children's book by a British subject. It was named among the top ten Medal-winners at the 70th anniversary celebration in 2007. Westall also won a second Carnegie (no one has yet won three), a Smarties Prize, and the once-in-a-lifetime Guardian Prize.

Chris Foxon is an Olivier Award-winning theatre-maker, dramaturg, and producer with an extensive track record of internationally-acclaimed new plays. Chris is Executive Director of Papatango theatre company, and has developed and produced new plays at fringe and West End venues. He has taught at the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama, as well as the Universities of York and Northampton.