Shear Madness at the Mill at Sonning

You can't beat a summer's day at Sonning

There’s a particular pleasure in arriving at The Mill at Sonning, that riverside gem where the past lingers in the beams and the water keeps its steady rhythm. Once a working flour mill serving the local community, it now serves theatre, laughter and a sense of occasion — a place where an evening out feels like stepping into a long‑running tradition.

I couldn't resist tyring out the hairdressers chair

Shear Madness fits the Mill at Sonning with cheerful ease. Alex Marker’s salon set is a burst of colour and delightful clutter, the sort of place where secrets might be swept under the rug along with stray hair clippings. Natalie Titchener’s costumes echo the palette with her usual confidence; she has a gift for colour that feels both playful and intentional, and once again she hits the mark.

The show begins with lively salon chatter and a member of the cast having their hair washed, but the real spark arrives when the audience is invited to join the investigation. Suddenly people lean forward, whisper theories and start eyeing the cast with suspicion.

Sonning always has great attention to detail

The audience gets a chance to prepare the questions that need to be asked of the suspects

During the interval, Detective Tony Whitcomb — played with quick, bright wit by Daniel Cane — sweeps through the tables collecting questions. He encourages even the shyest audience members to throw themselves into the fun, and it’s here that the production truly finds its rhythm.

One audience member became utterly fixated on the waste basket at the front of the stage, lifting it repeatedly as though it held the key to the entire mystery. The cast folded the moment into the evening with admirable ease, proving that unpredictability is part of the show’s charm.

The character of the flamboyant hairdresser runs through every possible cliché, and while the performance is energetic and clearly meant to be affectionate, it did jar a little. Still, the cast’s ability to play off the audience keeps the tone buoyant.

Go prepared to get involved. This isn’t a passive evening — you’ll be weighing motives, spotting odd details and joining in the collective thrill of deciding who committed the crime. Instead of a neat final reveal, the audience votes on who they believe the culprit is, making each performance wonderfully unpredictable.

The Mill’s famous meal remains part of the experience, and the new catering company has clearly raised the bar. The two‑course dinner included with the ticket is generous and well executed, and while starters come at an additional cost, they’re worth considering. The food feels fresher and more confident, adding to the sense that the whole outing is something special.

By the end of the night, you’ve laughed, debated and probably changed your mind at least once. Shear Madness is a lively, colourful whodunnit that thrives on audience mischief, buoyed by a cast who relish the unexpected. In the setting of The Mill at Sonning — with its history, its warmth and its ever‑reliable hospitality — it becomes something delightfully unique.

A night of mystery, merriment and full‑throttle participation. Go ready to play.

The Mill at Sonning Theatre  

Sonning Eye,

Sonning

Berkshire RG4 0TW

25 June – 15 August 2026  

Evening shows: Wednesday–Saturday at 8:15pm Dinner served 6:00pm–7:15pm

Saturday matinees: Weekly at 2:15pm Lunch served 12:00pm–1:15pm

Sunday matinees: 5, 12, 19, 26 July

Show‑only matinees (no meal):   Thursday 9 July & Thursday 30 July at 2:00pm