News

This autumn, Artistic Director Douglas Rintoul presents his first season at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch - which launches with the first ever revival of the hit musical Made in Dagenham.   Heralding a new era of creative collaborations with some of the UK’s best theatre companies, autumn begins with Made in Dagenham – The Musical, a partnership with New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich; followed by Bob Larbey’s comedy A Month of Sundays; and Agatha Christie’s Partners in Crime, a Tommy & Tuppence thriller, presented by the Queen’s and Eleanor Lloyd Productions in association with The Watermill Theatre.   With the Queen’s super-affordable Jump the Q Season Ticket scheme, audiences can enjoy all three in-house productions from just £12.50 per show – a saving of up to 45% on top-price tickets. The Queen’s has also been undergoing a period of exciting image refreshment – with a bold, colourful look for its brand new website and season brochure – both of which have now been officially launched this week.  Brochures can be dowloaded and print copies are also available.   Douglas Rintoul directs the regional premiere of Made in Dagenham – The Musical, with a book by Richard Bean, music by David Arnold and lyrics by Richard Thomas, playing from 26 August – 17 September. Based on the Woolley/Karlsen/Number 9 Motion Picture, this production is presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited.   Dagenham, 1968: Rita’s a busy mum, loving wife and hard-working Ford factory employee. But something’s very wrong. Rita and her female colleagues are working long hours sewing car seats for far less money than the men. They’ve had enough. Finding a voice she never knew she had, Rita leads a trailblazing battle for equal pay, taking on the unions, Ford’s top brass and the Government. An inspirational look at how ordinary people can do extraordinary things.   From 23 September – 15 October, the Queen’s is excited to present the first major revival of the award-winning A Month of Sundays. This funny and tender masterpiece about growing old is by the celebrated Bob Larbey, writer of iconic TV hits The Good Life and As Time Goes By. In his pleasant nursing home, Cooper rails against his ageing body but remains proud of not having ‘lost his marbles’. But Aylott, his friend, is increasingly concerned about losing his. Humour keeps their worries at bay: Cooper flirts with pretty nurses while both men fantasise about escaping to the Swiss Alps. But if the laughter runs out, where do they go from here? Russell Bolam directs.   The wonderfully gripping thriller, Partners in Crime, will be performed from 28 October – 19 November. 1920s London. Tommy and Tuppence are home from the War. Broke and jobless, our intrepid heroes embark on a daring business scheme, ‘The Young Adventurers Limited’. Willing to go anywhere and do anything, their first task plunges them into a perilous world of political intrigue, criminal conspiracy, murder and mayhem. Partners in Crime is an inventive adaptation by Sarah Punshon and Johann Hari of Agatha Christie’s The Secret Adversary, originally produced by The Watermill Theatre in February 2015. This unmissable season finale is shot through with fast-paced action, comedy, live music and a dash of romance.   For more information about the forthcoming season at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and the Jump the Q Season Ticket, call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or click here.     Notes: Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch The Queen's Theatre Hornchurch is a vibrant producing theatre that entertains audiences in East London, Essex and beyond. As the cultural hub of the region, over 200,000 people enjoy the theatre's programme every year, including the best in home-produced theatre, visiting live entertainment and inspiring Learning and Participation projects. Behind the scenes our sets and costumes are all lovingly created on-site by our highly skilled carpentry workshop, scenic artists and wardrobe department. The Queen's receives regular funding from the London Borough of Havering and is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. This helps us put theatre at the heart of the cultural life of our community.   New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich With a 400 seater main auditorium, and 100 seater studio space, the New Wolsey Theatre is nationally renowned for its producing work both as a sole producer and in collaboration with a diverse range of UK artists and companies and has a particular reputation for musical work, often employing actor-musicians. It is increasingly acknowledged as a leading player in the development of new musicals staging the world premieres of It's A Wonderful Life, 20th Century Boy and Mods & Rox. In 2013, they produced a national tour of the Tim Firth and Madness musical Our House, using the same actor-musician formation; in 2014 they co-produced Brecht and Weill's The Threepenny Opera alongside Graeae Theatre Company, Nottingham Playhouse, Birmingham Rep and West Yorkshire Playhouse, and in 2015 produced the blockbuster hit Sweet Charity. They have recently joined forces with 6 midscale venues and a consulting partner to create Ramps on the Moon, an Arts Council funded strategic touring project with the aim to increase awareness and participation of D/deaf and disabled actors, artists and audiences.   Eleanor Lloyd Productions Eleanor Lloyd Productions is an independent theatre production company. Current and recent productions include: 1984 (Playhouse Theatre), Nell Gwynn (Apollo Theatre) Olivier Award for Best New Comedy, My Night with Reg (Apollo Theatre), Handbagged (Vaudeville Theatre), Jeeves & Wooster (Associate Producer, Duke of York’s Theatre), Butley (Duchess Theatre) and Alex with Robert Bathurst (Arts Theatre/International tour).