Feel Me

Feel Me is a new interactive theatre show from The Paper Birds, UK leaders in devised verbatim theatre. Feel Me asks, via your mobile phone, who and what you care about from the stories unfolding live on stage in front of you.

Through 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.

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.

ELE Writers Group presents: The Only Play Is Essex

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.

The Makings of a Murderer 2: The Real Manhunter

Featuring Senior Investigating officer Colin Sutton, who caught serial killer Levi Bellfield and ‘Night Stalker’ Delroy Grant.

Join us for a chilling, thrilling night at the theatre as Colin, who was head of a Metropolitan Police murder squad tells us the stories of how he caught some of the UK’s most evil murderers.

In this all-new show, Colin; who the ITV drama series ‘Manhunt,’ played by Martin Clunes, is based on, will talk you through his remarkable career and what it is like to chase and catch a serial killer in a unique and one-off night at the theatre – for true crime fans and theatre goers alike.

The Makings of a Murderer 2 – A Crime Thriller night at the Theatre!

Touring Nationwide from Autumn 2024

 

Animal Farm

When the downtrodden animals of Manor Farm overthrow their master and take over, they imagine it is the beginning of a life of freedom and equality for all. However, over time a cunning and brutal elite among them, masterminded by the pigs Napoleon and Snowball, gradually take control. Soon the other animals discover that they are not all as equal as they once thought and find themselves ensnared as one tyranny is replaced with another.
Orwell’s enduring and devastating satire about the corruption of power is brought vividly to life on stage in this compelling critically acclaimed production.

Presented by Octagon Theatre Bolton, Derby Theatre & Hull Truck Theatre
Based on the novel by George Orwell
Adapted for the stage by Ian Wooldridge
Directed by Iqbal Khan

All children aged under 14 must be seated with an accompanying adult (18+) when watching a performance.

The Turn of the Screw

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.

Women Who Gave No F****s

Who will you crown Supreme Giver of Absolutely None?

Stand-up storytellers slam down no-holds-barred tales to make you want to rip up the rule book and riot!

We’ve gone digging for lost and forgotten women we think you’ll love.

From Irish pirate queens and naughty pig-wife belly goddesses to sword-wielding nemeses we bring you gob-smacking myths and legends of females outgunning adversity. Wielding wit, brains, cunning, courage, righteous rage and the occasional superpower, these deliciously imperfect women show us just what we can get done when we give absolutely no f***s.

Silence

The 1947 partition of India into West Pakistan and East Pakistan – now Bangladesh – saw millions uprooted and resulted in unspeakable violence. It would also shape modern Britain. Witnesses to this brutal moment in history live among us, yet the stories of that time remain shrouded in silence.

SILENCE is a new play focused on communal storytelling – presenting a shared history inspired by the remarkable personal testimonies of people who lived through the last days of the British Raj. Commissioned to mark the 75th anniversary of partition, SILENCE is adapted from Kavita Puri’s acclaimed book Partition Voices: Untold British Stories and was originally co-produced with the Donmar Warehouse.

The production examined the legacy of this brutal moment in history. Abdul Shayek, former Artistic Director of Tara Theatre, directed the original production and had developed this version for touring at the time of his death in August 2023. Iqbal Khan, Artistic Director of the 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony, and a friend and colleague of Abdul’s, will step in to direct the touring version.

SILENCE is adapted from the testimonies and stories of people who lived through Partition. It is based on Kavita Puri’s acclaimed book Partition Voices: Untold British Stories and written by Sonali Bhattacharyya, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, Ishy Din and Alexandra Wood.

Original production directed and developed for tour by Abdul Shayek Directed by Iqbal Khan.

From an original co-production by Tara Theatre and Donmar Warehouse In association with Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch.

Wilko

In 2012, Wilko Johnson, the iconic rock star and founder of legendary Essex band Dr Feelgood, was told he had inoperable cancer and a year to live. Refusing all treatment, he decided to spend his last months living meaningfully: seeing the people, places and things which meant most to him during his remarkable life. 

Then, a miracle happened…. 

This world premiere production of a new play – a mixture of words, rock ‘n roll, and quotes from the man himself – tells the amazing, uplifting true story of Wilko, the Canvey Island legend. 

“Anyone who is a fan of Dr Feelgood or Wilko Johnson should see it.”

“10/10 – I want to see it again!”

Jonathan Maitland is a playwright and former journalist having worked for the BBC across Radio 4, BBC News and presenting and producing shows for BBC 1. Maitland’s debut stage play Dead Sheep (2015) produced at Park Theatre became the most successful production in the theatre’s history. This record was broken by his second play also staged at Park Theatre An Audience With Jimmy Saville (2015), which went on to transfer to Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Further works at Park Theatre include Deny Deny Deny (2016) and the box office record breaking The Last Temptation of Boris Johnson (2019) which went on to complete an eight-week national tour in 2020. Most recently, Maitland presented the premiere of his new play The Interview at Park Theatre and his BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Wasps in a Jam Jar in 2023.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Twelfth Night: A Shakespeare Double Bill

Four Forty Theatre are back with a British Summertime Shakespeare Double Bill! Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, both performed in one night by only four actors in forty (ish!) minutes each!

Experience the hilarity of two of the Bard’s best comedies condensed into short, side-splitting shows. In a mere 40 minutes each, they distil the essence of Shakespeare’s masterpieces into uproarious performances. Prepare for an unforgettable night of laughter and with a British Seaside Twist! 2024 will see the company reach more people than ever before and they invite you to join them on their biggest tour to date!

“This is an exceptionally special, hilarious, speedy tour of two of Shakespeare’s arguably greatest plays!”

“Their inimitable style and charisma definitely set them apart as one of the most playfully ambitious theatre groups around!”

“Four Forty Theatre proves that there doesn’t need to be a high value production to provide high quality entertainment!”

Wet Cement

Temporal Horizons Productions in association with Small Steed Theatre present this Arts Council England funded work-in-progress performance.

Ali has left the madness of mainstream education to pursue a more peaceful career as a private tutor. However, when Danny (a neurodivergent man) enlists her help to pass his adult GCSE’s, she is dragged back into a world of stress and scrutiny, as it appears Danny is one of her ex-students who she had a hand in expelling…

Now Danny wants Ali to take accountability for her failings as a teacher. But Ali wants Danny to take accountability for his actions as a student… Can a compromise be reached before either hit breaking point, or will history tragically repeat itself?

“Wet Cement is astute class commentary. Danny is exactly the kind of man dehumanised by society, and the writing does a tremendous job of humanising him with thought and tenderness… A beautiful story of redemption and friendship.” – Bush Theatre

“The characters are richly painted and three-dimensional. The play offers a subtle and artful raising of dramatic stakes, the subtext is uneasy and carries danger to it. This is a skilfully written two hander, which shows real promise.” – National Theatre

Following a short interval this rehearsed reading will include a Q&A with the cast and creatives about issues surrounding accessibility and supporting those who are Neurodivergent. Please stay in your seats at the end of the performance to attend this. 

 

Temporal Horizons Productions and Small Steed Theatre are two emerging theatre companies who are neurodivergent led and aim to produce work which will provide opportunities to those who often experience barriers within the arts.

Keep up with Temporal Horizons Productions and Small Steed Theatre on their social channels

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