A Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, New Wolsey Theatre and Theatre by the Lake Production.
Follow a doomed theatre company as they desperately struggle to keep their show together as everything around them falls apart. The set won’t work, the cast can’t remember their lines, and company rifts are growing. Oh – and sardines… so many sardines.
From a frantic last-minute rehearsal, to a disastrously silent performance, all culminating in a spectacularly calamitous final show, it’s all just going wrong – but the show must go on!
Written by the multi-award-winning British novelist and playwright Michael Frayn, this is a new production of one of the greatest comedies ever written.
Age guidance: 12+
★★★★“A jaw-dropping sensation” Broadway Baby ★★★★“Audiences will laugh until they cry” Broadway World ★★★★“A comic masterpiece” Theatre Cat
Join Jack and his mum in their family-run farm-shop, where business is down, there’s taxes to be paid, and there’s nothing left to do but sell Pat the Cow at Romford Market. Oh, and to top it off, there’s a giant in the sky above Hornchurch, terrorising the town! But when some magic beans take root, an adventure starts to grow… Will Jack find the courage to climb to Cloudland, outwit the ferocious giant and save the town before it’s too late? Expect laughter, toe-tapping tunes, and a happy-ever-after in this GIGANTIC festive family pantomime. It’s the unmissable magical adventure you’ve all BEAN waiting for. Oh yes it is!
Panto is a fun, family-friendly theatre tradition in the UK, usually performed at Christmas. Based on fairy tales, it’s packed with comedy, music, and audience participation. Key Features:
The Dame – A comedic, larger-than-life character played by a man in exaggerated female costume and makeup, bringing slapstick and cheeky humour.
Audience participation – Classic shout-outs like “It’s behind you!” and “Oh no it isn’t!” keep the crowd involved.
Slapstick & Wordplay – Silly physical comedy, messy scenes, and jokes for both kids and innuendo for adults.
Modern References – Pop culture jokes and improvisation make each show unique.
Larger-Than-Life Characters – Expect a hero, a villain to boo, and a comedy sidekick.
Live on stage music – We pride ourselves on our highly professional actor-musician casting for all roles, meaning all cast members play an instrument on stage (as well as act, sing, and dance)
New writing – Each panto is brand new for us, it’s the classic fairy tale with a local spin.
Timetable
We’re proud to offer a range of accessible performances, welcoming everyone to come and enjoy the magic of panto.
A happy, nostalgic afternoon full of all your favourite melodies.
This hour-and-a-half-long performance includes a 20-minute break for a free cuppa and biscuit, served in the performance area for maximum convenience.
We understand that flexibility is very important for this performance. Please let us know if you have any requirements that we can assist you with.
A happy, nostalgic afternoon full of all your favourite melodies.
This hour-and-a-half-long performance includes a 20-minute break for a free cuppa and biscuit, served in the performance area for maximum convenience.
We understand that flexibility is very important for this performance. Please let us know if you have any requirements that we can assist you with.
A happy, nostalgic afternoon full of all your favourite melodies.
This hour-and-a-half-long performance includes a 20-minute break for a free cuppa and biscuit, served in the performance area for maximum convenience.
We understand that flexibility is very important for this performance. Please let us know if you have any requirements that we can assist you with.
A happy, nostalgic afternoon full of all your favourite melodies.
This hour-and-a-half-long performance includes a 20-minute break for a free cuppa and biscuit, served in the performance area for maximum convenience.
We understand that flexibility is very important for this performance. Please let us know if you have any requirements that we can assist you with.
A happy, nostalgic afternoon full of all your favourite melodies.
This hour-and-a-half-long performance includes a 20-minute break for a free cuppa and biscuit, served in the performance area for maximum convenience.
We understand that flexibility is very important for this performance. Please let us know if you have any requirements that we can assist you with.
Step into the comical chaos of married life with Alan Ayckbourn’s 1975 comedy, Bedroom Farce. In today’s world of reality TV, dating apps, and relationship advice columns, Ayckbourn’s timeless classic poses the question: what really happens when the honeymoon is over?
Four Couples, Three Bedrooms, One Night – Countless Laughs
Join us for an evening filled with misunderstandings, mishaps, and marital mayhem as we peek into the private lives of four couples over a single night. Set across three bustling bedrooms, Bedroom Farce delivers a witty and heartwarming exploration of relationships, spanning 12 hilarious hours.
All children aged under 14 must be seated with an accompanying adult (18+) when watching a performance.
Due to illness, the role of Trevor will be played by AdamSopp. Adam may have a script in hand, but we’re confident this won’t impact your experience of the play.
Bly, Essex. Angelic 9 year-old Flora and precocious 12 year-old Miles are the picture of innocence, rescuing injured birds and playing make-believe by the shady lake. But, as a new governess arrives at the manor to take care of them, disturbing secrets emerge from beneath the undulating waters. Questioning the truth behind the children’s stories, the governess finds it increasingly hard to tell reality from her nightmares – until she is forced to take action. Did you really see her? Or was it just a trick of the light? Henry James’ classic ghost story, chillingly reimagined by playwright Rebecca Lenkiewicz (Her Naked Skin), is an enthralling mix of Halloween thriller and psychological mystery, drawing in both believers and sceptics alike. The play has been used as inspiration for West End classic The Woman in Black and adapted for Netflix’s The Haunting of Bly Manor.
All children aged under 14 must be seated with an accompanying adult (18+) when watching a performance.
A Theatre Nation Partnerships production, produced by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch. Moira Buffini’s clever and fiercely funny comedy is a fly-on-the-wall look at what might have happened when Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher came face-to-face in the privacy of the palace.
Over the course of a decade did the Monarch and the Iron Lady ever find a common ground, or did their stiff upper lips reign supreme?
This highly entertaining Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and Theatre Nation Partnerships production explores the intense relationship between two of history’s most revered female leaders, and the legacy they each left behind.
⭐⭐⭐⭐“Equally escapist and deeply grounded in reality”LondonTheatre1
⭐⭐⭐⭐“Hilariously entertaining”Southend Theatre Scene
⭐⭐⭐⭐“Handbagged is a great night at the theatre”ArtsHub
Keen to add to your theatre fix? Join us at one of the following FREE events!
Director’s Talk – Attend our Director’s Talk on Tue 18 Feb to get an insight into the making of Handbagged. Book your seat at our Book your space here.
Page to Stage – This 90-minute practical workshop provides insight into the Director’s vision and decisions in creating some of the production’s most exciting moments. Book your space here.
Theatre Lab – An inspiring and exciting afternoon designed for those looking to network, develop their craft, and gain insight into the theatre industry. Theatre Lab offers exclusive access to a Page to Stage workshop, alongside Mini Matinees showcasing new writing by emerging creatives, and a special Creative Talk.Book your space here.
See the full tour dates here: Handbagged tour details
All children aged under 14 must be seated with an accompanying adult (18+) when watching a performance.
