The new season at the theatre will open with We’ll Always Have Paris (19 January – 11 March), directed by Sally Hughes.
The Mill at Sonning have announced its complete 2023 programme, which begins next week with We’ll Always Have Paris, a romantic comedy written by Jill Hyem and will run at the theatre from the 19th January until the 11th March.
This production will then be followed by a new production of Noel Coward’s Hay Fever (16th March- 13th May) , directed by Tam Williams. The classic comedy follows the story of the Blisses, who invite a quartet of hapless guests for the week-end : a career diplomat, a predatory society girl, a conventional sporty chap and a sweet-natured flapper – only for chaos to ensue.
From the 24th May, audiences can catch Jules Style and Stephen Sondheim’s musical Gypsy. Based on the the story of burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee, this revival of the musical is set to star Rebecca Thornhill as Mama Rose and Evelyn Hoskins who will play her daughter Louise. It will play at the theatre until the 15th July and features memorable songs such as ‘ ‘Everything’s Coming Up Roses’, ‘You Gotta Have a Gimmick’ and ‘Some People’.
The season will continue with Dazzling Divas (19th-29th July), a show which celebrates the lives and work of legendary performers Billie Holiday, Marilyn Monroe, Patsy Cline, Janis Joplin, Mama Cass, Karen Carpenter and Dusty Springfield. Written and performed by Issy van Randwyck, the show is directed by Edward Hall.
From the 1st to the 5th August, the Mill at Sonning will present an hour long adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, directed by Tam Williams. Set in the 1930’s, the production will be presented in the theatre’s restaurant. Lunch or dinner will be served first and then the play will begin with the drama unfolding around diners.
Alan Ayckbourn’s How the Other Half Loves will run at the theatre from the 10th August until the 23rd September. Directed by Robin Herford, the comedy follows three married couples and how their lives intertwine when two people are having an affair.
The theatre will then present the world premiere of a new adaptation of Ray Cooney’s classic West End hit comedy ‘Out of Order’, rewritten by Michael Barfoot for a woman MP. Titled It’s her Turn Now, the production is set to be directed by David Warwick and Sally Hughes, The Mill’s Artistic Director, said: “I was invited to the read through of this play as we were coming out of lockdown. It was a late summer’s afternoon in Ray Cooney’s garden with a few invited producers and a wonderful cast. We all knew and loved the original version of the play ‘Out of Order’ and didn’t know what to expect. Well it was a riot. We laughed until tears ran down our faces.”
The final production taking place in 2023 is a new production of High Society. Running at the theatre from the 29th November until the 20th January, the musical is based on the The Philadelphia Story’ and the 1956 film starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra, it features classic songs including ‘True Love’ and ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?’. It is set to be directed by Joseph Pitcher, joined by musical arranger & musical director Francis Goodhand.
For more information and to book tickets for the production visit: https://millatsonning.com/