Drama Archives - Queens Theatre

Caroline: A New Musical

Caroline dreams of something more than stacking shelves at the local greengrocers. Her days are routine, but her nights come alive, walking the pier, sharing laughs with her best friend Mary, and spinning records with Robbie, her music-mad boyfriend who’s big on charm yet short on direction.

But a music revolution is coming, and Robbie lands a shock gig with Radio Caroline – the pirate radio station blasting pop, soul and rock ’n’ roll from a ship off the Essex coast and suddenly everything changes. Caroline is swept into a tidal wave of music, mayhem and a movement that would shake up British culture forever.

Set to a soundtrack of iconic hits from the 60s, Caroline is a vibrant, heart-warming and rebellious new musical about love, ambition and discovering your own voice.

She’s not a DJ. She’s not a rock star. But in the middle of Britain’s radio revolution, Caroline might just steal the show.

Attend our FREE pre-show Director’s Talk on Thu 7 May at 6.30pm. Book your space here.

Caroline: A New Musical is produced by the East Anglian Touring Consortium. It is penned by the award-winning writer Vikki Stone and Directed by Douglas Rintoul (Chief Executive/Artistic Director at the New Wolsey Theatre) and Alex Thorpe (Co-Creative Director at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch).

Essex local Vikki Stone says “It has been a delight to develop Caroline, a bold, loud, and joyfully defiant show which celebrates the rich cultural history of the East Anglia”

Douglas Rintoul adds “As someone who also grew up in the area, I’m thrilled that we’re bringing this extraordinary story home. We are committed to creating high-quality, original theatre made by and for the people of East Anglia and what better story to tell than one that’s so deeply rooted in our region’s rebellious, creative spirit? Caroline celebrates the mavericks who changed the airwaves forever, blending wit, heart, and a glorious soundtrack that defined a generation. Audiences can expect an uplifting, joyful, and distinctly East Anglian story told with all the energy, humour, and humanity that defines our actor-musician work.”

The East Anglian Touring Consortium unites eight leading regional arts organisations from across East Anglia: Eastern Angles, HighTide, Landmark Theatres (New Theatre Peterborough), Mercury Theatre Colchester, New Wolsey Theatre, Norwich Theatre, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, and Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds. Their mission is to create a sustainable, inclusive model for midscale touring, producing original theatre that champions local talent and reaches under-served communities. Supported by Arts Council England, it aims to strengthen East Anglia’s creative economy, expand access to the arts, and set a national example for collaborative, environmentally responsible theatre-making.

Caroline was developed with the support of the National Theatre’s Generate programme.

Director’s Talk – Di and Viv and Rose

This is a FREE pre-show event.

Book your tickets to the main show here.

‘Murder Mystery Evening!’

After clinching the film rights to an international best-selling novel, the bosses at Foxglove Studios thought they had struck gold. But who will get the starring role – a Hollywood A-lister, or a humble film extra?

Just as shooting is about to start, a murderer strikes and the spotlight turns on some of the biggest names in the industry as they become suspects in the case of the decade.

The Police are left reeling and need your detective skills to help solve this complex puzzle.

Murder Mystery Evening!

Just as shooting is about to start, a murderer strikes and the spotlight turns on some of the biggest names in the industry as they become suspects in the case of the decade.

The Police are left reeling and need your detective skills to help solve this complex puzzle.

Dysbiosis

In the theatre foyer, you’ll discover an exhibition of artwork and writing inspired by nature walks and creative workshops. Step inside the auditorium, and instead of taking your seat in the stalls, you’ll join the performers on stage. Here, you and the actors sit together around a table for an intimate hour-long experience that blends acted scenes, video and music. Rather than following a single story, Dysbiosis unfolds like a collage, with each piece reflecting the diverse voices and backgrounds of its makers.

Expect a range of styles and tones: some moments are playful and humorous, while others are deeply moving or thought-provoking, tackling themes such as pollution and environmental change. Many pieces imagine the voices of plants, animals, or even stones, asking us to look at the world from new perspectives. With its relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, the performance invites gentle audience participation – perhaps sharing a hot drink or reading aloud – but only ever on your own terms. Dysbiosis is a truly collaborative, creative and immersive experience, bringing people and ideas together on stage and off.

Dysbiosis is a brand-new performance created by a group of writers, performers and creatives who have spent time at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch exploring how we see and experience nature. Alongside their own work, they’ve also collaborated with local Havering residents. The result is both a unique stage performance and a thought-provoking exhibition, each offering fresh perspectives on our relationship with the natural world.

Di and Viv and Rose

A Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and Theatre by the Lake production

Back in the 80s, Di, Viv and Rose are university housemates. Energetic and idealistic, they become friends – but where will life take them after that?

Filled with the iconic culture, fashion and music of the 80s, 90s and Noughties, Di and Viv and Rose follows these three women through the messy complexity of adulthood, in a must-see celebration of the power of lifelong friendship.

Candid and full of humour, Di, Viv and Rose talk about sex, ambition and love – sharing joyful moments, painful experiences, and some surprising secrets.

★★★★★ “The perfect show for a group of friends.” What’s Good to Do

★★★★ “A cracking night out at the theatre.” Northern Arts Review

★★★★ “You feel you have known these characters, thanks to the great performances.” North West End UK

Di and Viv and Rose is written by actor-writer Amelia Bullmore, best known for her portrayal of Steph Barnes in Coronation Street and more recently Riot Women (2025), Happy Valley (2016) and Scott & Bailey (2011). The original production of Di and Viv and Rose transferred to the West End after a sell-out run at Hampstead Theatre.

Don’t forget to attend our FREE Director’s Talk on Fri 17 Oct at 6.30pm – click here to book.

You’re Bard

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)

Strange, But True Crime

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

Shock Horror: A Ghost Story

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 12+

★★★★★ ‘Brilliantly combining live performance, illusion and film’ Theatre News
★★★★ ‘Spine-tingling’ Reviews Hub

Sherlock Holmes and the Hunt for Moriarty

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+