News

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and Derby Theatre are delighted to announce that they will join forces once again this autumn, to bring Robert Louis Stevenson’s extraordinary and iconic tale, Jekyll & Hyde to the stage in a thrilling new adaptation by acclaimed playwright, Neil Bartlett. Jekyll & Hyde is the latest collaboration between the two venues, following on from previous co-produced successes, including Abigail’s Party by Mike Leigh (“Cringing brilliance”, The Guardian), and a companion piece called Abi by Atiha Sen Gupta (“Delightfully enjoyable”, Broadway Baby); Richard Bean’s One Man, Two Guvnors (“Gloriously daft and highly entertaining”, The Stage) and Shakespeare’s Macbeth (“Slick and Polished”, British Theatre Guide).   Jekyll & Hyde will play at Derby Theatre from Friday 30 September until Saturday 22 October before transferring to Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch to run from Wednesday 26 October until Saturday 12 November.  “If I am the chief of sinners, I am the chief of sufferers also" Dr Jekyll is well respected but when a momentous scientific discovery is made, it spins into a double life in which inner demons threaten to take control. In the streets of Victorian London, respectability is mixed with murder. As two identities begin to blur, we are invited to delve into what makes Jekyll tick. Why do the bystanders choose to let them get out of control, as they battle to defeat the monstrous alter-ego inside? “An assured and sufficiently gripping production” ★★★★ London Theatre 1 on Macbeth at Derby Theatre and Queen's Theatre Hornchurch "A dark and chillingly atmospheric adaptation from Neil Bartlett, Sarah Brigham and a fine ensemble cast" The Stage on Great Expectations at Derby Theatre Jekyll & Hyde is adapted by Neil Bartlett and will be directed by Derby Theatre’s Artistic Director, Sarah Brigham. The cast and the rest of the creative team will be announced soon. Neil Bartlett is a British director, performer, translator, and writer. His work has garnered several awards, including the 1985 Perrier Award (as director for Complicite, for More Bigger Snacks Now), the Time Out Dance Umbrella Award (for A Vision of Love Revealed in Sleep), a Writers Guild Award (for Sarrasine), a Time Out Theatre Award (for A Judgement in Stone), and the Special Jury Prize at the Cork Film Festival (for Now That It's Morning). His production of The Dispute won a Time Out Award for Best Production in the West End and the 1999 TMA Best Touring Production award. He was appointed an OBE in 2000 for his services to the arts. His 2004 production of Shakespeare's Pericles was nominated for an Olivier Award for Outstanding Theatrical Achievement in 2004. Neil has adapted numerous plays for the stage and many of his translations of classic plays have been performed throughout the world. Sarah Brigham (Artistic Director, Derby Theatre and Director, Jekyll & Hyde) said: “I'm incredibly excited to be undertaking this fresh new adaptation of Jekyll and Hyde.  I admire Neil Bartlett's work hugely, having directed his version of Great Expectations a few years ago, and this new adaptation of the classic story of Jekyll and Hyde unearths some fascinating themes for today’s audience, the duality of man and of society, how our public and private personas intertwine, and the role of bystanders in extreme circumstances. It is such a well-known and iconic story, and we hope to bring our audiences into the heart of it. We are also delighted to be once again collaborating with Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch after our previous successes including Abigail’s Party, Abi, One Man, Two Guvnors and Macbeth.  We have a shared ethos with Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch of offering our audiences a brilliant night out that is both memorable and accessible, and we can't wait to be back delighting audiences in both Derby and Essex.” Mathew Russell (Executive Producer, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch) said: “QTH is really proud of the work it’s made in partnership with the extraordinary Derby Theatre - Abigail's Party, Abi, One Man, Two Guvnors and Macbeth. As we emerge from the pandemic, it's brilliant to be collaborating again, and we are incredibly proud to be co-commissioning ‎a writer of Neil's reputation and can't wait to see Sarah's vision for re-telling this classic and sharing it with our audiences from Essex and East London. It's the perfect thrilling theatrical fare for the darkest period of the autumn season.” Tickets for the Derby Theatre run: £11 - £33.50, Under 26s £14 - £31.50, Schools: £11 (one free with every 10 purchased), 16-25 year olds: £5 on Friday evenings. Tickets go on general sale at Derby Theatre from Friday 1 April at 10am Tickets for the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch run: £12.50 - £29 (plus 65p QNext fee); under 26s £8. Tickets go on sale to Queen's Angels at 2pm on Friday 25 March and on general sale from Monday 28 March at 10am. More information about Queen's Angels here. Full details about the show here.