Agatha Christie’s Mirror Crack’d

The Mill at Sonning, again. Not sure you can beat this venue for its hospitality, price, intimate stage and beautiful surroundings. I always rave about it, and each time I go, it just seems to get better. My heart rate goes down, my excitement goes up, my love of theatre comes to the fore. Theatre at the Mill at Sonning is how you do it.

Six shows throughout the year, each having two months of their busy calendar to bring audiences in, with fresh new adaptations, quality productions and some of the best acting talent in England.

This time it was Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d. We love a murder mystery and Dame Agatha is unbeatable in this genre. Giving it some star power were Liza Goddard (Skippy the Bush Kangaroo, Take Three Girls and Bergerac), Sara Crowe (the drunk bride in Four Weddings and a Funeral) and Saskia Strallen (from the famous Strallen theatrical family).

However, it wasn’t just the stars who brought something special. I just loved Bulgarian-born Martin Razpopov, who played the Italian Giuseppe better than most Italians would. Elysia Showan was a natural in her first professional performance, turning Cherie Baker into a lovable rogue from Croydon. James Mack brought a familiarity to his Chief Inspector Craddock role that made it almost feel as though I’d seen him many times, rather than for the first time.

Annie Wensak as Dolly Bantry surprised us all with a fiery performance when she needed to, and it was part comical, part startling and part upstaging, and almost stole the show. I even got a bit emotional at one of the more poignant scenes between Paul Kemble and Jane Quinn, who play Mr and Mrs Leigh.

Needless to say, we don’t talk about the play outside of the play. What goes on tour, stays on tour with a murder mystery, so my lips are sealed.

They did, however, make this production particularly unique with a first-class adaptation by Rachel Wagstaff, which made it flow really well, and the direction by Jonathan O’Boyle turned that new story into a reality, with co-directors Sally Hughes and Adam Rolston. Then Jamie Platt (lighting) and Nick Lodge (sound) added their magic to distinguish the complex, intricate and delicately timed flashbacks between the present and the time of the murder.

It’s stunning to see it all come together on stage, with each individual working closely together to provide that kind of delight to an audience.

As I say, it’s hard to beat a Mill at Sonning production for value at the theatre. They’ve already got their plans for another year all sorted and available to book.

The Mirror Crack’d – until 31 October 2026
Anything Goes – 19 November 2026 to 17 January 2027
Perfect Nonsense – 4 February to 21 March 2027
I’ll Be Back Before Midnight – 9 September to 31 October 2027
Kiss Me, Kate – 19 November 2027 to 19 January 2028