News

Full casting has been announced for the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich’s sequin studded production of Amanda Whittington’s ballroom drama, Kiss Me Quickstep. The production opens in Hornchurch from 22 February – 9 March, transfers to Ipswich (13 - 23 March) and then will tour to Theatr Clwyd (26 – 30 March); the first time the Queen’s Theatre has worked with this major theatre. The cast includes David Birch (Matilda the Musical, West End), Michelle Bishop (Strictly Ballroom, West End), Adrian Klein (Memorial, Barbican Theatre), Joshua Lay (Funny Girl, UK Tour), Abigail Middleton (Wondertown, The Bohemians), Garry Robson (The Who’s Tommy, Ramps on the Moon) and Vicki Lee Taylor (Mamma Mia, West End and International Tour). They will be joined by a community chorus of 8 ballroom dancers. Kiss Me Quickstep will be directed by Kirstie Davis, with design by Jess Curtis, lighting design by Mark Dymock, sound design by James Cook and choreography by Lucie Pankhurst.  Audiences will be able to fully immerse themselves into the dazzling world of ballroom dancing thanks to the intimate nature of the production’s staging; there will be an additional bank of seats behind the stage. This show will be performed with a traverse stage with actors performing to all sides. Writer Amanda Whittington says, ‘I’m delighted Kiss Me Quickstep will be dancing into the Queen’s Theatre. The show pulls back the glitter curtain on competitive dance, revealing what it takes to make a ballroom champion, on and off the floor. I can’t wait to see the new production hot-footing across the country, too.’ Audio description via a headset will be available at every performance of Kiss Me Quickstep from Tuesday 26 February, with a Sign Language Interpreted Performance on Wednesday 6 March at 7.30pm and a Dementia-Friendly Performance on Thursday 7 March at 1.30pm. Kiss Me Quickstep runs at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 22 February – 9 March. Tickets are £12.50 – £29 (plus an additional 65p QNew Transformation fee), with £8 tickets available for Under 26s (Tue – Thu & previews). Audiences can see this show and two more Queen’s Theatre productions (In Basildon and The Hired Man) from just £15 each with a Jump the Q season ticket. Offer ends 9 March. For more information about Kiss Me Quickstep click here.