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Get the whole family into the Christmas spirit this December with a fun trip to see Sparky the Elf and the Secret Toyshop. This new festive adventure for 6 – 11 year olds is produced by the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and performed in a top secret location in Romford’s The Mercury Mall Shopping Centre from 15 – 30 December. There’s a top-secret door in the heart of Havering. Open it up and venture down mysterious passageways and you’ll find a little bit of the North Pole! Sparky Tinselbottom, a dedicated but somewhat naughty Elf, is frantically working away in the build-up to Christmas making toys. Shh! No one knows she is there except for you! She’s terribly lonely so join in as one of her friends and discover fantastical tales of elves and lost toys from around the world. But don’t distract Sparky for too long, as Father Christmas needs everything to be ready for Christmas and the clock is ticking… Playing the cheeky but friendly Sparky the Elf is Emma Swan. Her recent children’s theatre credits include The Elves (Red Rose Theatre Company,  Avenue Theatre Ipswich); The Princess and the Toad (The Colour House Theatre) and Jack and the Beanstalk (Cast Theatre, Doncaster). Families must arrive 15 minutes before the advertised start time by the Help Desk on Level 2 (Street level), at Romford’s The Mercury Shopping Centre, Mercury Gardens, RM1 3EE, where they will be met and led to Sparky’s secret toyshop, which will be a short walk away. Written and directed by the Queen’s Theatre’s Artistic Director Douglas Rintoul, this unique experience is from the team behind last year’s sell out festive treat, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas which was performed at the National Trust’s Rainham Hall. Sparky the Elf and the Secret Toyshop runs from 15 – 30 December. Tickets are £7.50 for all weekday performances and £10 at weekends. Performances are at 11am, 2pm, 4.30pm, 3pm and 6pm (varies each day). To book, call the Queen’s Theatre’s Box Office on 01708 443333 or go online at queens-theatre.co.uk