Hush Hush! Whisper, 'Who dares?' Mikron's in town with secrets to share…

Mikron’s second pop-up play of 2025 is a tribute to the codebreakers of Bletchley Park during World War II and cleverly blends personal stories with the high-stakes work of intelligence gathering.

With a meticulously researched, well-crafted script and song lyrics by writer Lucie Raine, along with moving music by composer Greg Last, marvellous musical direction and arrangements by Robert Cooper, divine direction from Elvi Piper and a sensational set and costume design by Celia Perkins, as a long-time Mikron reviewer, I have to say that I think this is the company’s best production to date. Indeed, I was so moved and impressed by this captivating production that after reviewing it at Howden Shire Hall, I immediately booked tickets to see the show the next day with my husband, who also thoroughly enjoyed the drama and music, at Wilberfoss Community Centre.

In true Mikron style there was a cast of four multi-talented actor/musicians. Each took on one main part; workers in Hut 3 at Bletchley; Catherine Warnock played a Cockney working-class lass. Peggy Valentine, 18 years old, headstrong and gifted, and James McLean commanded the space as the captain in charge. Georgina Liley was outstanding in her role as Blue Stocking Flirt (honourable, “not Lady!”), and Rob Took was utterly convincing, conveying his paranoia about any possible careless talk as the obsessive Oxbridge undergraduate.

They all seamlessly transitioned between different roles, frequently by donning a hat, scarf, glasses, or altering their accents. The movement on stage was brilliantly choreographed, along with imaginative, playful use of sound effects achieved with various musical instruments, and awe-inspiring use of props. Greg Last’s melodies will last in the mind long after we heard them and were delivered with such poignancy by this tight-knit, talented cast; I had a lump in my throat when they sang Do Their Mothers Miss Them Too?

We learnt a great deal about the pressure on staff at Bletchley Park, with the reactions of the soldiers on the front line adding to the sense of urgency, as well as the emotional toll on the mothers left behind as their sons fought overseas (wonderfully portrayed by Georgina Liley as landlady Mrs Slater).

The portrayal of the anxieties of the approach to and the D-Day landings, as well as the heartbreaking scene when you realised that not everyone was celebrating VE Day in Britain, was brilliantly conveyed.

Those we lost
In our hearts
Shine on

sang the cast in perfect harmony at this fitting finale; you could have heard a pin drop, we were all so engaged with the narrative and music.

May Mikon’s Light continue to shine brightly. Quality theatre at its best, brought to our doorstep.

Julia Pattison was at Howden Shire Hall and Wilberfoss Community Centre. Touring until 18th October 2025 along with Operation Beach Hut
See www.mikron.org.uk for details