News

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is thrilled to announce that Mathew Russell, Executive Director, and Douglas Rintoul, Artistic Director, have been listed as one of The Stage’s top 100 most influential figures in theatre, a new entry for the list. Under the directorship of Douglas Rintoul and Mathew Russell, Queen's Theatre Hornchurch's on-stage programme and off-stage community and outreach work have a symbiotic relationship. In 2019, the Theatre produced 14 shows, with an estimated 37% of audience members attending for the first time – in a borough that has the fourth lowest arts engagement in London. Its landmark project, Essex on Stage, championed positive notions of Essex. Beginning with an acclaimed production of David Eldridge’s In Basildon in March 2019, it included talent development and new artistic work, with the commission of Sadie Hasler’s Stiletto Beach and the regional premiere of Romford-born playwright Luke Norris’ So Here We Are in Autumn 2019. Essex on Stage has been made possible by the generous support of The Clothworkers’ Foundation. Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is the recipient of the 2018 Clothworkers’ Theatre Award, a competitive annual prize given to a regional producing theatre, that has only ever been awarded five times. Elsewhere, the Theatre partnered with the National Theatre on the second iteration of the NT’s large-scale Public Acts programme – with an impressive participatory production of As You Like It – while co-producing partners have also included the New Wolsey in Ipswich, Central School of Speech and Drama, Hull Truck Theatre and Derby Theatre. At a time when theatres’ need to be open and accessible to all parts of their communities is at the top of the collective agenda, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is making this its raison d’être and proving that quality theatre and outreach can go hand in hand. The Stage 100 is intended to reflect who are the 100 most influential people working in the theatre and performing arts industry. It is considered from the point of view of The Stage, as a trade publication, and so focuses both on theatre as a business and an art form. Inclusion within the list and ranking is weighted towards achievements in the past 12 months, but also takes into account continuous achievement. For a full list, please visit www.thestage.co.uk/features/2020/the-stage-100-theatres-most-influential-2020-analysis/