News

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and Derby Theatre have today announced their co-production of Richard Bean’s smash-hit comedy, One Man, Two Guvnors. Directed by Sarah Brigham, Derby Theatre’s Artistic Director and Chief Executive, this co-production of Bean’s hilarious farce will open at Derby Theatre from 7 - 28 September before a run at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 2 – 19 October. One Man, Two Guvnors is the latest co-production between Derby Theatre and the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch following their highly acclaimed productions of Abigail’s Party and Abi in autumn 2018. One Man, Two Guvnors is a side-splitting mix of physical comedy, farce and live music and has remained a huge hit with audiences and the press alike since the National Theatre’s production opened to rave reviews in 2011. The play continued to be a runaway success when it later toured the UK, played in the West End and on Broadway and later played Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand, plus further UK tours. After being fired from his skiffle band, Francis Henshall is skint and hungry. He manages to secure a new job as a minder for small time gangster Roscoe Crabbe. What Francis doesn’t know, is his new guvnor is really Roscoe’s sister Rachel in disguise as her own dead brother, who has been killed by her boyfriend Stanley Stubbers. To further complicate things, Francis nabs a second job working for that very Stanley Stubbers who is hiding from the police. All Francis has to do to ensure his two guvnors don’t meet. What could go wrong? Sarah Brigham says: ‘I’m absolutely thrilled to be directing our version of Richard Bean’s phenomenally popular One Man, Two Guvnors this autumn and to continue our partnership with the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch. An absolute firm favourite of a production, that has proved immensely popular for years with audiences across the UK and overseas, I am confident that our audiences (and those in Hornchurch) will have a truly great night in our theatres this autumn seeing this superb slapstick comedy.’ Douglas Rintoul, Artistic Director at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch says, ‘After our hugely successful co-productions of Abigail’s Party and Abi, we’re delighted to be partnering again with our friends at Derby Theatre. Derby Theatre is an innovative leader in British theatre, and so we’re thrilled the Theatre’s Artistic Director Sarah Brigham will be directing this major revival of this iconic British comedy. Hornchurch audiences are in for a truly riotously fun night out.’ Tickets will be available to purchase for One Man, Two Guvnors at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from Thursday 11 April. For more information about the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch visit queens-theatre.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01708 443333.