★★★★★ ‘Heart-breaking’ Independent
★★★★★ ‘Gentle, funny, devastating’ Financial Times
★★★★★ ‘Gripping, amusing, uncomfortable, desperately moving’ The Times
Casting has been announced for LOVE, a new play about the housing crisis by Alexander Zeldin, which premiered at the National Theatre to critical acclaim in late 2016, and transfers to the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 25 – 27 October. Reprising their roles are original cast members Emily Beacock, Anna Calder-Marshall, Luke Clarke, Janet Etuk, Nick Holder and Yonatan Pelé Roodner. Waj Ali, Rosanna Beacock and Mimi Malaz Bashir complete the cast. This piercing new play is a timely reflection on an often overlooked crisis and an intimate story of family love for our times. The Queen's Theatre Hornchurch is the only UK venue where audiences can see this immersive drama performed live on stage. This is prior to the broadcast of LOVE, set to be screened on BBC Two in December. It's the run up to Christmas. In a city where over 50,000 households are living in temporary accommodation, three families find themselves without a home. A middle-aged man and his elderly mum, a young family with a baby on the way, a newly arrived woman from Sudan. Strangers. Forced together. No space is personal. LOVE is designed by Natasha Jenkins, with lighting by Marc Williams, with sound design by Josh Anio Grigg and movement by Marcin Rudy. The Queen’s Theatre is transforming its auditorium to create a truly unique and intimate experience like no other. Tickets are limited because of this, so audiences should book early to avoid disappointment! Writer and Director Alexander Zeldin said, ‘The stories I seek to tell are those of the everyday, of apparently simple struggles in Britain today. I’m delighted that LOVE will visit the Queen’s Theatre, to continue to tell a story that I believe we can only tell using this medium.’ LOVE will continue the National Theatre’s partnership with the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, established through Theatre Nation, a three year programme to grow audiences and increase involvement in theatre. The two partners have already been working together to bring The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time to 8 secondary schools in Outer East London, as well as producing a community musical production of Pericles through Public Acts, a nationwide initiative to create extraordinary acts of theatre and community. LOVE runs at the Queen’s Theatre from 25 – 27 October. Tickets are £19 - £24 (plus an additional 65p QNew Transformation fee) with £8 tickets for Under 26s and can be purchased by calling the Box Office on 01708 443333, in person at the theatre or online at https://queens-theatre.co.uk/whats-on/show/love/
