Simbi Akande and Nadim Naaman to star in MY FAIR LADY at The Mill at Sonning
The Mill at Sonning have today announced the full cast for their Christmas production of My Fair Lady, lead by west end stars Simbi Akande and Nadim Naaman.
With an unforgettable score including songs ‘Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?’, ‘On The Street Where You Live’ and ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’, My Fair Lady by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe is a beloved musical theatre classic.
Director Joseph Pitcher returns to The Mill at Sonning following his award winning success with Gypsy, and critically acclaimed productions of High Society and Guys & Dolls.
Simbi Akande (Eliza Doolittle) was Peggy/Maria in Hamilton (Victoria Palace Theatre) ‘Jill’ in Mother Goose (Duke of York and UK Tour) Izzy in The Great British Bake Off - The Musical (Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham) The Prince of Egypt (Dominion Theatre).
Nadim Naaman (Henry Higgins) recently starred as The Phantom in The Phantom of The Opera (International Tour). He has also played Raoul (West End and Greece). Other notable credits include Broken Wings (West End and Middle Eastern Tour), On The Town (Royal Albert Hall), Titanic (Toronto and Southwark Playhouse), Sweeney Todd (Tooting Arts Club and West End), One Man, Two Guvnors (Theatre Royal Haymarket) and The Sound of Music (London Palladium).
Jo Servi (Colonel Pickering) has extensive West End credits including Witness for the Prosecution (County Hall), Dreamgirls, Chess (London Colisseum), Sunny Afternoon (Harold Pinter); City of Angels (Donmar); Before The Dawn - Kate Bush (Hammersmith Apollo),
Mark Moraghan (Alfred P. Doolittle) is best known for his TV work with regular roles in Coronation Street, Holby City, Dream Team and Brookside. He is also known as a arrator of Thomas the Tank Engine, following fellow Liverpudlians Ringo Starr and Michael Angelis, and currently voices Thomas & Friends for Dovetail Games.
Francesca Ellis (Mrs Eynsford-Hill) was Madame Giry in The Phantom of the Opera (West End), Alter nate Donna in Mamma Mia! and Cover to Patti Lupone in Company (West End).
Christopher Parkinson (Zoltan Karpathy) was cover Nate in The Devil Wears Prada (Dominion Theatre), cover Frank Hillard/Mr Jolly in Mrs Doubtfire (Shaftesbury Theatre), cover Bob Cratchit in Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol (Southbank Centre); Riff in West Side Story (Ljubljana Festival), Hipster Dork/cover Kurt and Kurt’s Dad in Heathers (Theatre Royal Haymarket),
Alfie Blackwell (Freddy Eynsford-Hill) played Sam Crow in King of Pangea at The King’s Head Theatre.
Sophie-Louise Dann (Mrs.Higgins/Mrs Hopkins) has extensive West End credits including Madame Morrible in Wicked (Apollo Victoria); Fergie in The Windsors: Endgame (Prince of Wales); Celia in The Girls - Best Actress in a musical Olivier nomination (Phoenix); Paula Paxton in Bend it Like Beckham (Phoenix); Barbara Castle MP in Made in Dagenham (Adelphi); Diana Divane in Lend Me a Tenor! - Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Role in a musical (Gielgud).
Conor McFarlane (Jamie) was in Heathers (West End, UK & Ireland Tour), Once (UK Tour), the UK premiere of Queen Of The Mist (Charing Cross Theatre).
James William-Pattison (Harry) was in The Simon & Garfunkel Story (UK/International Tour); Fisherman’s Friends (UK Tour/Toronto); Dirty Dancing (Dominion Theatre/UK Tour); Once (UK Tour); The Last Ship (UK Tour/Toronto).
Zaynah Ahmed (Ensemble) was Lisa in Mamma Mia (Novello Theatre).
Imogen Bailey (Ensemble) was Cover Anytime Annie in 42nd Street (Kilworth House); Ensemble/ 1st Cover Princess Fiona in Shrek The Musical (Eventim Apollo London and UK & Ireland Tour); Stray/ On Stage Swing/ Cover Hannah & Spot Conlon in Newsies (Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre). Emma Fraser (Ensemble) was Ensemble/Onstage Swing in Once (UK tour); Ensemble Camelot (London Palladium); Ensemble Rags (The Hope Mill & Aria Entertainment).
Nadia Kramer (Ensemble) was Sophie Sheridan in Mamma Mia! (Royal Caribbean) and Stephanie Mangano in Saturday Night Fever The Musical (Royal Caribbean). She was also in The Whistling (Mill at Sonning).
Director & Choreographer: Joseph Pitcher. Set Designer: Diego Pitarch. Costume Designer: Natalie Titchener. Sound Designer: Chris Whybrow. Lighting Designer: Jamie Platt. Music Supervisor & Arranger: Charlie Ingles. Musical Director: Nick Tudor. Co-Choreographer: Alex Christian. Assistant Director: Matthew Jeans. Casting Director: Jane Deitch.
The Mill at Sonning is one of the only dinner theatres in the United Kingdom. It has won awards such as the 2023 UK Theatre Award Winner for the Best Musical Production for Gypsy and The Most Welcoming Theatre three years in row in 2016, 2017 and 2018. The Mill at Sonning is uniquely still a family enterprise and is now co-managed by Sally Hughes alongside her son, renowned film producer (A Street Cat Named Bob, A Christmas Gift From Bob, A Guide To Second Date Sex) Adam Rolston. The Mill has just completed its first UK tour with a production of Death Comes to Pemberley, which marks the next stage in the development of this historic and iconic theatre. In bringing the worlds of Jane Austen and P.D. James together on stage for the first time to audiences across the country.
For more information, click here