The Shoe-Horn Sonata - April 2024 - Mill Theatre at Dairy Road

The Shoe-Horn Sonata by John Misto

Based on true events, the Shoe-Horn Sonata is a compelling revelation of the experiences of women imprisoned by the Japanese in WWII told through two who meet again fifty years later.

In 1945 Sheila and Bridie were freed from a Japanese POW camp deep in the jungles of Sumatra where thousands of women and children had lived and died, virtually forgotten by their own governments for the duration of the 1942-45 Pacific War. Now, after being separated for half a century, the filming of a television documentary forces the women to relive a past in which unspeakable brutality was punctuated by moments of heroism, tenderness and even a gentle humour. They confront terrible secrets that even the Australian government has tried to erase from history. 

The Shoe-Horn Sonata was first performed at Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre in 1995 and won both the Australia Remembers National Play Competition (1995) and the Play Award for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards (1996) for Australian playwright John Misto.

Please note before opening night there is a week of public preview performances. You can purchase tickets for preview shows here.

REVIEWS:

"John Misto's modern Australian classic is a story that must be told and retold."

 The Sydney Morning Herald

"It is truly a masterpiece by a sensitive and intuitive Australian playwright."

 The Daily Telegraph

"War-time reminiscences don't come any more affecting and moving than this. John Misto's playwriting combines an acutely sensitive humanity with an imagination that's out of the ordinary and a mischievous sense of humour."

 The Sun-Herald 

CREATIVES: Full online program available here

Cast

Bridie: Andrea Close

Sheila: Zsuzsi Soboslay

Contingency: Tracy Noble (On the final preview, Saturday 6 April Tracy Noble will be playing the role of Sheila)

Production Team

Director: Lexi Sekuless

Sound Designer and Composer: Leisa Keen

Production Designer: Annette Sharpe

Lighting Designer: Jennifer Wright

Production Stage Manager: Katerina Smalley

Publicity Photographer: Robert Coppa

Publicity Hair and Makeup: Vicky Hayes

Production Photography and Film: Daniel Abroguena 

Interviewer voice: Timmy Sekuless

Set Construction: Simon Grist

Producer: Lexi Sekuless Productions 

Major partner: Elite Event Technology

TICKETS 

General admission tickets are $50 inclusive of GST but exclusive of Humanitix booking fees. Concession tickets for Full-Time Students, Health Care or Pension Card holders are $40 inclusive of GST but exclusive of Humanitix booking fees.

Tickets are fully refundable and transferable up to one day before the event. 

Tickets are for entry only and are available online until one hour before the show. From that point, box office tickets in person are available for purchase. 

Bubs in Arms Show 2:30pm Sunday 14 April

These matinee shows provide the perfect opportunity for parents and their bubs to enjoy the show with the following additions:

• house lights are partially left on 
• three seats are provided per individual ticket to give plenty of room 
• coming in and out of the theatre is permitted as required
• any additional noise is fine  

Please select the Bubs in Arms ticket at checkout. 

Tickets: $50 for Adult plus Bub

*Please note that large prams cannot enter the theatre and noise from electronic devices is not encouraged. Email hello@milltheatreatdairyroad.com with any questions.

SEATING & ACCESS

• All tickets are general admission and no seats are reserved so the earlier you arrive, the better position you will have.
• Seating is in an L-shape to create a dynamic and intimate playing space. 
• The venue is fully accessible for wheelchairs with a ramp from the P3 parking spot and same level access from entry into building 3.3 into the theatre all the way to the accessible seating positions inside the Mill. We have two wheelchair seating positions both with very different views. Please contact us at hello@milltheatreatdairyroad.com so we can talk through the options. One option is on the short side, the other option is on the long side. All accessible bookings will be reserved.
• Every seat in the house has a great view, and a different view. Patrons walk through the set to find your seats, adding to the intimacy of the space. This means, late arrivals or patrons who leave the theatre before intermission or the end will NOT BE ADMITTED TO THE THEATRE.
  

ARRIVAL & PROTOCOLS

ENTERING

• Please head to the Box Office on arrival. If you have already purchased a ticket, the Front of House team checks off the name of every booked attendee. If you haven’t purchased a ticket, you can get one onsite an hour before show time. 
• The doors open approximately 15 minutes before show time. The Front of House team will let you know when you can enter.
• You may be temperature checked before being allowed into the venue. Your temperature needs to be below 37.5.
• Please do not attend if you are experiencing any of the following: fever; flu-like symptoms such as coughing, sore throat and fatigue; shortness of breath or have been in contact with a person with a confirmed case of coronavirus.

LOCK OUT

• Due to the unique layout of the venue, the audience walks through the stage to take their seats. This means we cannot accommodate anyone slipping in late for the beginning of the show or for the return after intermission.
• The Front of House team rings a bell and counts the audience to ensure you won’t miss out but please don’t tempt fate otherwise you will be locked out and we cannot let you in.

CAST AND CREW

We have a COVID-contingency cast member. This process means that should any cast or crew be unwell, our contingency cast will step in to ensure the safest environment for the company and audience. The Front of House team will ensure audiences are alerted to any changes before each show. 

LOCATION

The Mill Theatre is in Building 3.3, the Screencraft and KeepCo building which is a short walk from Capital Brewing. There are two easy ways to approach the Theatre:

PARK in P3 at the back of the precinct. From there you will see building 3.3 which has a large Screencraft sign. The public entrance is just up from that sign (not underneath it!). Once inside, walk about 5 metres and the theatre is to the right, next to Mojo Guitars.

WALK from Capital Brewing or the Less sculpture into the KeepCo building, pass Ramen Daddy and at the end of the corridor we are on the left. 

PARKING

All parking in the precinct is free with several accessible parking spots in all the parking locations. The best spot to park is P3 at the back of the precinct. If you park elsewhere please be warned that signage and way-finding around the precinct is extremely difficult. Arrive in plenty of time to possibly get lost, possibly be in a bad mood, and remedy that with a drink at Vertikal or Ramen Daddy before enjoying a smashing show!