In 2022 Tam Williams came to Sally Hughes with an idea for an immersive production of Noel Coward’s Still Life, for The Mill at Sonning. Tam Directed, with Rachel Pickup and Alasdair Craig as Laura and Alec. Running at an hour and performed in the theatre bar - now reimagined as a railway café - the audience sat with their afternoon tea, as Alec & Laura's illicit love affair played out amongst them.
And so the idea of Wild Pursuit was born: Immersive, small-ensemble theatre, with live music played by the cast.
In 2023 the same ensemble performed Twelfth Night, this time in the restaurant of The Mill. Our same principles of immersive, ensemble theatre were applied and, by now, we had a theme.
2024 saw us invited by Cunard to take Twelfth Night from Southampton to New York on the QM2. Once again we were in amongst our audience, this time as they luxuriated in the Corinthian Lounge, with their transatlantic cocktails!
In early 2026 we took Still Life on the same crossing.
September 2026 brings us to The Grand Saloon bar at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, where Still Life will be performed under the watchful eye of Noel Coward's Bronze statue, right in the heart of London's West End.
We can't wait to see you there.
Wild Pursuit -
Iconic stories in unexpected places
Wild Pursuit is: Alasdair Craig, Sally Hughes, Rachel Pickup, Tam Williams
Tam is an associate artist with The Orange Tree Theatre.
Theatre credits include: The Tempest (Jermyn Street Theatre; The Fantastic Follies of Mrs Rich, Miss Littlewood (both RSC Swan Season 2018); The Lottery of Love (Orange Tree Theatre); Sunny Afternoon (Hampstead Theatre & West End); Chariots of Fire (Hampstead Theatre & West End); The Rivals (West End, A Midsummer Night’s Dream both directed by Sir Peter Hall; Twelfth Night, The Taming of the Shrew (for Propeller at Watermill, Old Vic, RSC Complete Works, National & International Tour); The Winter’s Tale (for Propeller at Watermill, National & International Tour); Remember This (National Theatre); Birdy (Lyric Hammersmith & West End); Henry the Sixth, Part III (Regional & International Tour), The Park (both for the RSC); The Matchmaker (Chichester Festival Theatre);
Film and Television credits include: 1242 Gateway to the West, Dragonheart V, Spectre, Holby City, A Touch of Frost, Killer Net, Casualty, The Trench
Rachel is a London and New-York based actor, and co-founder of Wild Pursuit.
She has worked extensively on stage and screen but her first love is the theatre where the audience are active collaborators - they can change the actors and hopefully the actors can change them. The chemistry that occurs between us, the shared experience is the thrill and drive at the heart of Wild Pursuit.
Some highlights: London & UK: Still Life and Twelfth Night for Tam Williams at The Mill At Sonning and beyond; Springwood for Richard Nelson, Hampstead Theatre; Dear Liar, Jermyn St Theatre; Merchant of Venice, (Globe theatre / International tour); 39 Steps, (Criterion); Hamlet for Calixto Bieito, (UK / International tour); Troilus & Cressida for Peter Stein, (RSC complete works and International tour); The Sea, (Chichester, Minerva); Fortune’s Fool, (Chichester Festival Theatre); Midsummer Night's Dream, Two Gentlemen Of Verona, Julius Caesar, Paradox, (RSC); Dr Foster, (Chocolate Factory); The Three Sisters for Bill Bryden, (Birmingham Rep); Miss Julie (Rose Theatre); Bedroom Farce for Sir Peter Hall (West End); Twelfth Night for Terry Hands; King Lear, (Old Vic / National tour). Time & The Conways, Royal Exchange; And Barefoot In The Park, directed by Sally Hughes at Jermyn St Theatre. New York: King Lear, (TFANA); Private Lives for Darko Tresnjak; Play, Breath, Act Without Words, Dancing At Lughnasa, Airswimming, London Assurance, The Home Place, Irish Repertory Theatre; An Ideal Husband, (Shakespeare Theatre). TV: The Gilded Age, (season 2 and 3); The Beast Must Die; Elementary; Madame Secretary; Victoria & Albert; A Small Island; Midsomer Murders; Sister Boniface; Grantchester. Film: Wonder Woman; Schadenfreude; Chronic, (winner Un Certain Regard, Cannes)
Al is a co-founder of Wild Pursuit Theatre. Much of the first part of his career was spent with Edward Hall’s all male Shakespeare company, Propeller. This involved tours that circled the globe from Newbury to China, via residencies at The Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York and London’s Old Vic. The experience instilled in him a love of ensemble theatre, powered by collaborative and imaginative story telling.
Theatre includes: Sunny Afternoon (UK tour) Twelfth Night (The Mill at Sonning & QM2). Still Life (The Mill at Sonning) The Dark Room (Theatre 503) War Horse (National, West End); Not About Heroes, (Trafalgar Studios) A Few Man Fridays (Riverside Studios) Arcadia, (The Lowry) All My Sons, (Leicester Curve) Major Barbara, (National Theatre) Don Quixote (Leeds Playhouse) Black Comedy (Colorado Festival of World Theatre) The Rivals (Ustinov, Bath). For Propeller Theatre Company: The Comedy of Errors, Twelfth Night, The Taming of the Shrew, The Winter’s Tale, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Pocket Dream. (National/International tours West End & NY).
TV& Film includes: Here; The Royal Mob; The Crown; Doctors; Eastenders; The Royal; Lawless Heart.
Al is an experienced voice over artist, including having voiced numerous campaigns for Volkswagen.
Sally hughes is artistic director of the mill at sonning theatre in oxfordshire where this production of still life was first performed in the mill's waterwheel bar.
In 1994 she took over as artistic director of the mill which has continued to operate as a commercial theatre since it opened in 1982. The mill frequently punches above it’s weight and in recent years has garnered 5 star national reviews for its musicals. Including gypsy which won the uk theatre award for best musical in 2024.
Sally is also a director and actor. Productions she has directed include The Rainmaker, Stepping Out, French Without Tears, A Piece Of Cake, Enchanted April, Calendar Girls, And Many More. Also Directed Pastimes (National Tour); Barefoot In The Park (Jermyn Street Theatre).
She graduated from the Webber Douglas academy and was first employed as an actress in Coming Of Age (National Tour); Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been? (Bush); Catchpenny Twist (King’S Head); Dames At Sea (Royal Gala); A Sentimental Journey - The Story Of Doris Day - The Mill, Wiltons Theatre, Edinburgh Festival And The El Portal Theatre, Los Angeles U.S.A; Too Marvelous For Words (Director, Alvin Rakoff); Alphabetical Order And The Heiress (Director Anthony Valentine).
TV Appearances Include:Keeping Up Appearances, Laura And Disorder, Late Expectations, Mulberry, Brush Strokes, Don't Wait Up, and Kidnapped Abroad.
Brought to you by Wild Pursuit Theatre & Bob and Co Noel Coward’s "Still life" charts the chance encounter and secretive love affair between married strangers Alec and Laura. Later adapted into the classic British film “Brief Encounter” – this unique and immersive adaptation will be performed by a cast of 5, with all the music played live. Still Life pulls into Drury Lane this September.
