News

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch has today announced its autumn programme for its 65^th anniversary year. The season opens with the hilarious situation comedy Abigail’s Party by Mike Leigh which runs from 30 August – 22 September. Made famous by the BBC Play for Today starring Alison Steadman, the Queen’s Theatre is co-producing this fresh but faithful look at an iconic classic with Derby Theatre, Wiltshire Creative and international partner Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg. Following the success of their production of Made in Dagenham in 2016, the Queen’s Theatre and New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich are joining forces to produce the UK regional premiere of the multi-award-winning musical Once. Based on the Academy Award-winning film, this smash-hit romance will feature an ensemble of actor-musicians and plays from 3 – 20 October. From 1 – 17 November, the Queen’s Theatre is producing Haunting Julia. This hauntingly tense study of grief and the supernatural is punctuated with trademark wit from Alan Ayckbourn, one of the world’s most popular and prolific playwrights. Theatregoers can enjoy all three of these productions with a cost-effective Jump the Q season ticket from £45 (£15 per show). The season ticket goes on sale from Monday 9 April and individual tickets can be purchased from Monday 16 April. Derby Theatre and the Queen’s Theatre have also commissioned Abi by Atiha Sen Gupta, a fresh new piece of writing as part of Derby Theatre’s RETOLD series, which comprises of new one-woman plays. Abi, which will run alongside Abigail’s Party from 4 – 22 September, is told from the viewpoint of 15 year old Abisheera who surveys what’s left from the previous generation’s night before, in response to Mike Leigh’s seminal play. Deals on Abi are available when purchased with Abigail’s Party or a Jump the Q season ticket. The theatre is also welcoming two major visiting productions. Dishoom! a new play by Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti comes to the Queen’s Theatre as part of a national tour from 25 – 29 September and is produced by Rifco Theatre Company, Watford Palace Theatre and Oldham Coliseum Theatre. LOVE, written by Alexander Zeldin transfers to the Queen’s Theatre from 25 – 27 October, and is co-produced by the National Theatre and Birmingham Repertory Theatre. This new play about the housing crisis premiered at the National Theatre and was hailed by the Evening Standard as ‘the National Theatre’s play of the year’ in 2017. This is part of Queen's Theatre's developing relationship with the National Theatre which includes being Theatre Partner on the Public Acts project. For further information about these productions, Jump the Q and to book tickets, call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or visit queens-theatre.co.uk