The Queen’s Theatre has today announced its autumn season of produced work will include two new plays from Essex playwrights performing alongside each other as part of its Essex on Stage programme, as well as two major revivals of modern classics, One Man, Two Guvnors and The Beauty Queen of Leenane. The season opens with Essex Girls and Boys, comprising of two dynamic pieces by local award-winning playwrights as part of the Theatre’s Essex on Stage programme.

Following 2018’s highly successful first year; the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s Take Part Festival is back, showcasing fantastic work performed and presented by young local talent from Sunday 14 April to Friday 19 April. This includes the Theatre’s own youth theatre and dance groups as well as brilliant school and community groups.

What is Approaching Empty about? Approaching Empty is the story of two lifelong friends and a business deal… and we know those things rarely end well!

Full casting has today been announced for the landmark revival of the award-winning British musical The Hired Man, co-produced by the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and Hull Truck Theatre in association with Oldham Coliseum Theatre. This epic heroic tale of love, betrayal and loyalty opens in Hornchurch (27 April – 18 May), transfers to Hull (23 May - 15 June) and concludes in Oldham (20 June - 6 July).

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is elated that its regional premiere of In Basildon by David Eldridge has received wonderful praise from critics since it opened, and The Metro even listed the production as a top Theatre production pick to see this week! Fiona Mountford from the Evening Standard awarded the production with four stars and said the show was ‘Punchy and immensely enjoyable’ and claimed In Basildon was ‘an inspired piece of programming’ for the Theatre.

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is delighted that its regional premiere of Romford-born playwright David Eldridge’s critically acclaimed drama In Basildon, has received a nomination in the Off West End Theatre Awards. Assessors from The Offies (Off West End Theatre Awards) have nominated Patrick Driver for Best Male Performance in a Play.

Celebrations are in full flow as the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch experienced a momentous weekend of achievements, including the launch of its glamorous new Q Bar at the opening of its regional premiere of David Eldridge’s In Basildon on Saturday (16 March) and staff limbered up to run in the Brentwood Half marathon on Sunday (17 March). The stylish new Q Bar opened on the ground floor, making it more accessible for visitors to use.

Outer Limits: Call Out At the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, it is a priority for us to encourage the development of emerging artists based in East London and Essex.  As such, we are opening up the opportunity for local artists and companies to propose small-scale productions to be performed on our Foyer stage this Autumn. We have a number of slots from late August through to January 2019 and preference will be given to shows that have already been created, already touring and/or booked for any festivals.

‘Forget friendship… this is business.’ Ishy Din’s new razor-sharp drama Approaching Empty comes to the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 2 – 6 April as part of a national UK tour. The production is produced by Kiln Theatre, Tamasha and Live Theatre, with direction from Pooja Ghai.

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is set to launch its innovative Essex on Stage programme on Saturday 23 March with the regional premiere of David Eldridge’s In Basildon and play readings by three exciting Essex playwrights Sadie Hasler, Kelly Jones and Dan Murphy. Essex on Stage is an ambitious new two year programme led by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, championing positive notions of Essex, celebrating theatre made by working class people and raising aspirations for emerging artists from Essex and Outer East London.

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s young company will be participating for their sixth year in the biggest youth festival in the UK and Ireland with Laura Lomas’ thought-provoking new play, Chaos. The NT Connections festival is a celebration of young people, theatre-making and the importance of access to the arts.

Staff of the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch are currently training for the Brentwood Half Marathon to raise money for its wide-reaching Learning and Participation projects. Running the Brentwood Half-Marathon on Sunday 17 March are Douglas Rintoul (Artistic Director), Tom Lowe (Relationships Officer) and Ellie Hutley (Front of House Assistant and a former Youth Theatre Member).

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch experienced a significant moment in the Theatre’s 65 year history this week, as Sir Ian McKellen graced its stage for two consecutive evenings to raise funds for the Theatre’s QNew Transformation programme. The Theatre is delighted to have raised an incredible £46,000 and sends a special thank you to everyone who shared this landmark moment with them for their generous donations.

Some of those involved in improving cultural activity in Havering are keen to find out more about what the residents of Havering get up to in their spare time locally, would ideally like to do and what would help local people to do more. There’ll be a chance for anyone to find out more and give their feedback at a series of informal drop-in sessions throughout the borough – do pop along if you can: Alternatively, you can complete a short questionnaire by clicking here.

ACS Dance Centre, also known as Anthony Clifford Studios is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year; husband and wife team and ex-professional dancers Diana and Mark started the school with just three students. They are now a registered charity as well as having their own impressive multi-studio dance premises in Albert Road, Romford.