Four actors. Four Shakespeare shows. Endless possibilities.
You – the audience – decide everything, from the play to the performance style. Even which actor plays which part. This hilarious, unpredictable new show, featuring actors whose past experience includes the RSC, Bristol Old Vic, Cheltenham Everyman, Dubai and the West End promises an unforgettable evening of Shakespeare unlike anything you’ve ever seen before!
“Delightfully Daft” (The Stage)
“A chaotic, ambitious, side-splittingly funny interactive Shakespearience” (Westhoff Reviews)
“Though this be madness, yet there’s method in’t” (William Shakespeare)
Join us for a stranger than fiction night of true crime with ex-forensics lecturer Jennifer Rees who explores the world’s most shocking and unbelievable cases. Jennifer’s previous theatre tour, The Psychology of Serial Killers, was a huge hit with audiences, selling out across the UK and Ireland to rave reviews.
In this new show, Jennifer explores stories such as the serial killer who gained work in law enforcement whilst on the run – and ended up hunting himself; the female, balloon-carrying killer clown; serial killers on gameshows – how their appearances led to their identification, and many more stories.
A fascinating look at the strangest, but true crime stories, perfect for fans of true crime documentaries and podcasts.
“Riveting content, and extremely well delivered. 10/10” – audience review
Herbert grew up in the Metropol. The eerie old cinema was his playground and prison – a place where endless late-night horror films were his only window to the world.
Forbidden from leaving by his disturbed parents, Herbert hid in its shadows and gorged on its movies. But what lurked in the Metropol’s darkness? And how did he manage to escape?
Now Herbert’s back at the abandoned cinema, searching for answers to long-buried questions. But for him, and for you, the real horror has only just begun…
Inspired by classic theatre ghost stories and cinema’s greatest frights, Shock Horror is a chilling journey into a haunted past. Combining live performance and big-screen action, it’s full of shivers, shrieks and shocking revelations.
Because we love a good horror film, don’t we? Until we realise we’re all alone in the dark…
Age guidance 15+
★★★★★ ‘Brilliantly combining live performance, illusion and film’ Theatre News
★★★★ ‘Spine-tingling’ Reviews Hub
London, 1901. As the British Empire wages war in the name of a Queen whose health is failing, a series of mysterious events reveal s a crack in the high corridors of power.
A crack that threatens to destabilise monarchy, government and Empire. And at its centre, controlling the flow of information and influence, a shadowy figure plans a final deadly move. Drawn into the game and unsure who to trust, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson find themselves confronting figures from their past in a desperate race against time, aware that the most powerful person in the world could be in the pocket of one of the most corrupt.
But just how much is Holmes willing to sacrifice as he faces ‘checkmate’? A thrilling adventure based on the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes: The Hunt for Moriarty is a world premiere combining powerful performances, a haunting soundscape and innovative design for an exhilarating theatrical experience.
“One of the most innovative, audacious companies working in contemporary English theatre” The Stage
Suitable for age 11+
An inspiring and exciting afternoon designed for those looking to network, develop their craft, and gain insight into the theatre industry. This free event offers exclusive access to a Page to Stage workshop, alongside Mini Matinees showcasing new writing by emerging creatives, and a special Creative Talk.
All three events will be BSL interpreted, as will the evening performance of Handbagged later that day.
2:00pm – 3:45pm:
Mini Matinees
New writing by emerging creatives, performed on our foyer stage.
Moira Buffini Writer’s Talk
Be the first to watch this exclusive screening of an interview with acclaimed playwright Moira Buffini, hosted by Alex Thorpe. They’ll explore what it takes to craft a fiercely comic play, dive into Moira’s journey as a playwright, and discuss everything Handbagged.
4:00pm – 5:30pm: Page to Stage Workshop
Removing the mystery of taking Handbagged from the Page to the Stage. This practical workshop provides insight into the director’s vision in creating some of the production’s most exciting moments. It is facilitated by Chani Merrell, who will be joined by members of the acting company and technical staff.
From rehearsal techniques and investigation with the actors and stage management, weaving in lighting, sound and music, this session unpacks the immense amount of talented people it takes to bring this epic and satirical production to life.
There will also be a chance for you to put your questions to the company.
Under 26? Why not book an £8 ticket for the evening production of Handbagged? Moira Buffini’s clever, funny, and charming comedy takes 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 common ground, or did their stiff upper lips reign supreme?
This highly entertaining production is presented by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and Theatre Nation Partnerships.
Join us for Murder at the Allotment, an unforgettable evening of intrigue, suspense, and mystery! In a quiet village, the allotment is the place to be, bringing neighbours together in friendly rivalry. But this year, everything takes a dark turn when the Chair of the allotment society is discovered dead.
As the community reels from the shocking murder, long-buried secrets and simmering rivalries begin to surface. Who had a motive to kill? Was it a jealous competitor, a wronged friend, or someone hiding a far darker secret? With everyone under suspicion, it’s up to you to follow the clues, uncover hidden motives, and piece together the truth.
Prepare for a night filled with twists, turns, and plenty of surprises as you immerse yourself in this gripping Murder Mystery. Can you solve the case before the killer strikes again, or will the truth remain buried in the soil? Perfect for fans of mystery and suspense, Murder at the Allotment promises an evening of excitement and intrigue that will keep you guessing until the very end. Don’t miss your chance to play detective in this thrilling whodunnit!
Age guidance 16+
This 90-minute practical workshop provides insight into the Director’s vision and decisions in creating some of the production’s most exciting moments. It is facilitated by Handbagged’s Associate Director, who will be joined by members of the acting company and technical staff.
From rehearsal techniques and investigation with the actors and stage management, weaving in lighting, sound and music, this session unpacks the immense amount of talented people it takes to bring this epic and satirical production to life.
There will also be a chance for you to put your questions to the company.
Feel Me asks, via your mobile phone, who and what you care about from the stories unfolding live on stage in front of you.
A stunning mixture of live performance, film, projection, dance and music, Feel Me explores the different lenses through which we are told, and connect to stories in the modern digital world.
Worlds unfold from backpacks, and tents are constructed and dismantled again, each scene and location temporary, like a transient teenager in search of safety, acceptance and a new place to call home. An interrogation of empathy, Feel Me asks what makes us ‘feel’ for another person, as we journey through landscapes and across borders, through weather storms and paperwork, changing seasons, endless queues and interviews.
Feel Me seeks real-world impact and action: as active participants within the show, audiences are gently and anonymously asked to share how they feel about the story they are witnessing at different moments and to consider who they connect with, who they feel empathy for and why. This is measured using innovative software accessed by the audience during the show in a series of collaborative ‘check-in’ moments, with results creatively shared live as part of the performance. Supported by academics from Essex University, we’re bringing together a study of the impact of the show on our audiences and their empathy levels.
Made in partnership with Theatre Centre.
A co-production with New Wolsey Theatre.
Supported by Padepokan Seni Bagong Kussudiardja (Indonesia) and The Point Eastleigh.
Schools
Mobile phones are integral and used throughout the show to interact with the performers, making decisions about what is important to us from the stories that unfold on the stage. Please ensure that your students bring theirs along to witness the whole experience.
The Only Play is Essex is a showcase of new work written by playwrights based in East London and South Essex. You can be first to see their stories performed in this special rehearsed reading of short plays and excerpts with professional director and cast.
ELE Group is a member-led group of writers that meets monthly at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and participates in the theatre’s Outer Limits talent development initiative.
