• Support Wokingham Today
  • Get the print edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Friday, May 23, 2025
Wokingham.Today
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • All
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
    • Riseley
    • Shinfield
    • Sindlesham
    • Sonning
    • Spencers Wood
    • Swallowfield
    • Three Mile Cross
    • Twyford
    • Wargrave
    • Winnersh
    • Wokingham
    • Wokingham Without
    • Woodley
    • Woosehill
    • Yateley
    Photography by: Summers Photography. Flowers by: Fletchers Flowers. Set up by: Crystal Hire.

    Get married and win a wedding at Dinton

    Graham Fitsell, Squire?s Hare Hatch centre manager (second from left) with Alan Boyle, Age Concern Twyford & District centre manager (centre), Tina Goodwin, trustee at the charity (second from right) and members of the garden centre plant team. Picture: Squire's Hare Hatch

    Squire’s Hare Hatch announces new charity of the year

    A two-choir concert of nearly one hundred singers has brought women?s safety a step closer in Berkshire. Picture: Reading Male Voice Choir

    Nearly 100 singers raised their voices for women’s health

    Wokingham Baptist Church hosted a celebration of Ukrainian culture. Picture: Robin Scurlock

    Ukraine Concert in Wokingham was a fun-filled party

    Toastmasters helps people to enjoy public speaking. The group meets at The Bradbury Centre, Peach Place on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Picture: Matt Botsford via Unsplash

    Practise public speaking with Toastmasters

    A 10th Anniversary party for Wokingham In Need was hosted by Alexandra Grange on Monday. Pictures: Emma Merchant

    Wokingham In Need enjoys a happy birthday party at Alexandra Grange

    Graeme Hobbs from Wokingham Positive Difference

    Wokingham Positive Difference will discuss the power of innovation

    Wokingham MP, Clive Jones. Pic: Andrew Batt.

    Jones: I’ll never forget May 22

    Nurture Nest at Wooden Hill Primary and Nursery School in Bracknell offers a dedicated space for its pupils who, for many reasons, might struggle in a mainstream classroom. Picture Wooden Hill School

    Wooden Hill Primary and Nursery School has a new Nurture Nest building

  • SPORT
    • All
    • Binfield FC
    • Reading FC
    Ruben Selles

    Former Reading FC manager Ruben Selles linked with League One job

    Reading FC Picture: Luke Adams

    Reading fans – you can finally dare to dream again

    BAPCO beat Burghfield to take the title. Pic: Andrew Batt

    Four in a row for BAPCO

    Rob Couhig, Joe Jacobson

    Rob Couhig reveals new Reading FC CEO following takeover

    Bobby Trundley and his team mates Picture: Dave Allen

    It’s a podium streak for Wokingham racing star Bobby with a win at Silverstone

    Wokingham Cricket Club

    Cricket legend Gower welcomes in Wokingham CC’s bicentenary season

    Rams RFC Pictures: Paul Clark

    Rams RFC celebrate at end of season ball

    Cricket Picture: Pixabay

    Lewis hits brilliant century to see Berkshire CCC beat Buckinghamshire

    Emmbrook & Bearwood cricket club is hosting the sessions.

    All welcome at summer cricket sessions

  • READING FC
  • COMMUNITY
    Photography by: Summers Photography. Flowers by: Fletchers Flowers. Set up by: Crystal Hire.

    Get married and win a wedding at Dinton

    Graham Fitsell, Squire?s Hare Hatch centre manager (second from left) with Alan Boyle, Age Concern Twyford & District centre manager (centre), Tina Goodwin, trustee at the charity (second from right) and members of the garden centre plant team. Picture: Squire's Hare Hatch

    Squire’s Hare Hatch announces new charity of the year

    A two-choir concert of nearly one hundred singers has brought women?s safety a step closer in Berkshire. Picture: Reading Male Voice Choir

    Nearly 100 singers raised their voices for women’s health

    Wokingham Baptist Church hosted a celebration of Ukrainian culture. Picture: Robin Scurlock

    Ukraine Concert in Wokingham was a fun-filled party

    Toastmasters helps people to enjoy public speaking. The group meets at The Bradbury Centre, Peach Place on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Picture: Matt Botsford via Unsplash

    Practise public speaking with Toastmasters

    A 10th Anniversary party for Wokingham In Need was hosted by Alexandra Grange on Monday. Pictures: Emma Merchant

    Wokingham In Need enjoys a happy birthday party at Alexandra Grange

    Graeme Hobbs from Wokingham Positive Difference

    Wokingham Positive Difference will discuss the power of innovation

    Nurture Nest at Wooden Hill Primary and Nursery School in Bracknell offers a dedicated space for its pupils who, for many reasons, might struggle in a mainstream classroom. Picture Wooden Hill School

    Wooden Hill Primary and Nursery School has a new Nurture Nest building

    Friendship, conversation topics, and coffee and cake are on the menu at Wokingham Afternoon WI on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Picture: thomas-bormans via Unsplash

    Looking for a friendly and welcoming Tuesday afternoon group?

  • LIFESTYLE
    • All
    • Food
    • Health
    • Obituaries
    • People
    Photography by: Summers Photography. Flowers by: Fletchers Flowers. Set up by: Crystal Hire.

    Get married and win a wedding at Dinton

    The Forest Shelter construction at Dinton Pastures.

    Forest of Imagination set for this weekend

    Margaret Drinkwater and Julia Isaacs have both donated blood 100 times, and encourage others to join them. Picture: Margaret Drinkwater

    Super donors Julia and Margaret encourage more people to give blood

    Christen  Forster speaks about the explosion of life in Spring, and at Pentecost. Picture: Christen Forster

    Church Notes

    Stephen Lewis (aka Box Dropper Logistics)

    West Streeting with Olivia Bailey, Yuan Yang and Matt Rodda.

    Health secretary visits Royal Berks

    People Planet Pint Wokingham leader Elizabeth Corse says David Attenborough's new film is sobering, but hopeful. Picture: Edmondlafoto via Pixabay

    Naturally Speaking

    Honest Burgers

    REVIEW: Honest Burgers bring a taste of New York to Reading

    Very Beautiful South.

    Old red eyes is back

  • WHAT’S ON
    • All
    • Arts
    • Entertainment
    Siren RG1

    Siren RG1 to mark first anniversary with weekender celebration

    Wellington Farm Shop

    Wellington Farm Shop celebrates its 20th anniversary

    Two concerts in one day from Reading's APO. Picture: Pexels via Pixabay

    An orchestral event in Wokingham promises evening of drama and contrast

    Eva Wong Nava will be at Trinity Hall Church on Monday from 4pm until 5pm. Picture: Eva Wong Nava

    Young writers can meet children’s author Eva Wong Nava

    Crafters can join a project  to decorate Twyford village centre with bunting Picture: Hello I'm Nik on Unsplash

    Get out the bunting for VE Day at Wokingham’s May Fayre

    Crowthorne Symphony Orchestra's performance of American music promises to be a fun and high energy evening. Picture: CSO

    Discounted tickets available for summer concert in Wokingham

    The Wokingham Lions Club has announced its new season of  #WOKY Comedy Nights at Wokingham Theatre, will begin on Friday, October 4. Picture: Wokingham Lions Club

    Enjoy the last of this season’s #Woky Comedy Night

    A concert at Wokingham Baptist Church will celebrate Ukrainian culture and support charity. Picture: Olena Romanovska

    Wokingham to host a concert of Ukrainian music and dancing

    Priscilla at South Hill Park Pictures: Alex Harvey-Brown

    REVIEW: The true colours of SHP’s Priscilla are beautiful like a rainbow

  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT
No Result
View All Result
Wokingham.Today
No Result
View All Result
Home What's On Arts

‘It’s a farce, but you’ve got to play it as if it’s real’: Mark Curry looks forward to Two Into One

by Phil Creighton
July 30, 2021
in Arts, Featured, Sonning, Wokingham
The Mill at Sonning

The Mill at Sonning

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

RAY COONEY’S farces are brilliantly written, if you change a line, it might mean the same thing but it doesn’t work.

Actor and former Blue Peter presenter Mark Curry is preparing for Two Into One, which launches at The Mill at Sonning next week.

He’s playing Richard Willey, a cabinet minister who is hoping to enjoy an *ahem* afternoon with the personal secretary of the leader of the opposition. The only problem is his own secretary has bumbled again and what should be a private tete-a-tete becomes a headache as both spouses are invited.

Add in a wily waiter, a pompous hotel manager and an MP who wants to campaign against pornography and you have all the ingredients for an hilarious night out.

It’s been a tough couple of weeks for Mark as he works on memorising his lines and getting back into the groove of being in The Mill’s rehearsal rooms after the covid lockdowns.

“It just feels wonderful, I thrilled be doing it,” he says. “What you miss as actor is being part of a company, it’s a really wonderful thing.”

Related posts

Buddy Holly’s Winter Dance Party to be recreated in Sonning on Sunday

Gypsy sees everything come up roses for The Mill at Sonning

And it is quite a company: there’s a nine-strong cast of Mill favourites, including Harry Gostelow and Delme Thomas, it’s directed by Ron Aldridge and, on the first day of rehearsals, Ray Cooney popped his head round the door to wish the cast well.

“He is so encouraging,” Mark says of the master farce writer. “Ray writes (his farces) in a specific way, if you change the rhythm it doesn’t work – that’s the sign of good writing.

“(For us), we have to play what’s at stake. We have to play it for real, you don’t overdo it and tell the audience that this is funny.”

And Mark – who made a career out of larking about on children’s television in the 1980s – knows that he has to be serious about the funny business, not least as he’s following in the footsteps of some famous names including Donald Sinden.

“Richard is all there on the page, Ray wrote a description of the character and as you read the first few lines you can tell what kind of guy he is: slightly pompous, arrogant, suave and thinks he can get away with it. He has a bit of charm – you’ve got to like him.

“I think it’s wonderful when you see the cast lists (of those who have gone before) and think it’s my turn to play it now, but everyone is unique. I can’t do what they did. Any good director tells you ignore any previous script notes and tell you to play it your way.”

Mark is also aware of the history in any theatre that he performs in:
“I love standing on a stage thinking of all the people who have performed on it”.

Parts like this, he feels, are an actor’s dream and he works make the world Richard inhabits real for the Mill’s audiences.

“My playful side is in there, but when you’re playing the part, you can’t lark about,” he says.

With any play at the moment, the big question is will it be covid safe? Mark is confident that The Mill is doing everything it can to protect not just the company, but audiences too.

“The Mill has been doing it incredibly well (owner) Sally Hughes is so focused on keeping everyone safe,” he says.

This includes daily lateral flow tests and temperature checks for the team on arrival, and sticking to bubbles when together.

Audiences will be encouraged to wear masks when they’re in the auditorium and moving around the building.

Chefs will serve from the buffet to minimise contact and extra cleaning will be deployed.

And as part of The Mill’s money from the Culture Recovery Fund, a new air-conditioning system has been installed in the auditorium which will bring in a constant supply of fresh air using an energy saving system.

“It’s fantastic,” Mark says of the system. “The auditorium is nice and cool.

“The Mill are very aware of safety, and at the end of the say we have a show to put on … and we’ll do it.”

Mark’s become a bit of a regular at The Mill, acting in several productions over the past decade. “It’s just a unique venue, with nowhere like. It’s just a bubble of happiness, a lovely place to be.

“The audience want to be entertained and come here for a good time. There’s no arms folded, everyone’s on a high.”

And they will be chuckling away when Two Into One launches next week.

“You will have a great night,” Mark promises.

“Not just theatre, but The Mill is open, food is served, everything is here for you … and you will
see a classic farce from a master writer.

“It is high quality comedy.”

Just don’t leave it your secretary to book, especially if you’re *ahem*.

Two Into One runs from Thursday, August 5 through to Saturday, October 9.

Performances are held Tuesdays to Saturdays in the evening, with Thursday matinees during August and a Sunday matinee from September 5.

Tickets cost from £59.50 and include a two-course meal before the show.

For more details, or to book, call the box office on 0118 969 8000 or log on to millatsonning.com

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Tags: mill at sonning
Previous Post

Wokingham independent business throws leaving party, ahead of moving for national chain

Next Post

Play equipment stolen in Twyford for second year in a row

FOLLOW US

POPULAR THIS WEEK

Residents at the drop-in session. Pic: Andrew Batt.

Hundreds drop-in to see plans

May 20, 2025
Friendship, conversation topics, and coffee and cake are on the menu at Wokingham Afternoon WI on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Picture: thomas-bormans via Unsplash

Looking for a friendly and welcoming Tuesday afternoon group?

May 22, 2025
Wokingham MP, Clive Jones. Pic: Andrew Batt.

Jones: I’ll never forget May 22

May 22, 2025
Bargain evening wear will be available to buy at The Cowshed's next Little Black Dress Sale. Picture: Emma Merchant

Find a little black dress bargain at The Cowshed

May 21, 2025
Rams RFC Pictures: Paul Clark

Rams RFC celebrate at end of season ball

May 18, 2025
Christen  Forster speaks about the explosion of life in Spring, and at Pentecost. Picture: Christen Forster

Church Notes

May 21, 2025

ABOUT US

Wokingham Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Wokingham. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Wokingham Borough.

Wokingham.Today is a Social Enterprise and aims to ensure that everyone within the Borough has free access to independent and up-to-date news. However, providing this service is not without costs. If you are able to, please make a contribution to support our work.

CONTACT US

[email protected]

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

  • Support Us
  • Book Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: [email protected], or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
  • COMMUNITY
  • LIFESTYLE
  • SPORT
  • READING FC
  • OBITUARIES
  • WHAT’S ON
  • JOBS
  • PHOTOS
  • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • CONTACT US
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION
  • SUPPORT US

© 2022 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.