The Mill at Sonning, the UK’s award-winning dinner theatre, has announced an ambitious 2026 slate featuring world premieres, record-breaking comedies, and a classic Cole Porter musical. Following its recent success with the Death Comes to Pemberley UK tour, the venue continues to solidify its reputation as a powerhouse of independent British theatre.
World Premieres and Interactive Hits
The season's centerpiece is the world stage premiere of Jack & Sarah (April 23 – June 14). Based on the beloved 1995 film starring Richard E. Grant and Dame Judi Dench, this heartwarming romantic comedy follows a workaholic father navigating single parenthood with the help of a free-spirited au pair. Adapted by Duncan Abel and directed by Abigail Pickard Price, it promises a nostalgic, life-affirming journey back to the charm of the 90s.
Summer brings the global sensation Shear Madness (June 25 – August 15). Directed by Artistic Director Sally Hughes, this interactive whodunit holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-running play in US history. Set in a lively hair salon, the audience acts as detectives, questioning suspects and following clues to solve a murder. With improv-heavy performances, the culprit changes every night, ensuring no two shows are the same.
Thrillers and Festive Favorites
Autumn belongs to the "Queen of Crime" with Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d (September 4 – October 31). Adapted by Rachel Wagstaff, the production sees Miss Marple investigating a shocking death at a glamorous Hollywood star's party in St. Mary Mead. It is a spellbinding thriller centered on obsession and revenge.
Closing the year is the theatre’s legendary Christmas musical, Cole Porter’s Anything Goes (November 19 – January 17, 2027). This "tap-tastic" extravaganza aboard the S.S. American features timeless classics like "I Get a Kick Out of You" and "You’re the Top."
As a family-run enterprise that includes a two-course meal with every ticket, The Mill at Sonning continues to offer a unique theatrical experience. From the world-first adaptation of Jack & Sarah to the high-seas high-jinks of Anything Goes, 2026 is set to be a landmark year for the Berkshire landmark.
