Join Ray Clark for an illustrated talk on the fascinating history of pirate radio and its importance in the evolution of radio in the UK.
This includes the local story of Radio Caroline, the pioneering pirate radio station broadcasting from ships anchored in international waters off the East coast.
Please note that this is not a ticket Caroline: A New Musical. Please also note that you do not need to have booked to see Caroline: A New Musical to be able to attend this pre-show talk.
String your bows and join us for some festive fun in the Forest of Havering, as Robin Hood hits the bullseye in a brand-new, laugh-out-loud panto adventure!
With his Merry Band beside him and the brilliant, brave Maid Marian leading the charge, our cheeky outlaw is ready to outwit the greedy Sheriff, with daring tricks, silly mishaps and plenty of audience mischief along the way!
Perfect for the whole family, this action-packed adventure is bursting with catchy songs, dazzling sets and costumes, and side-splitting panto fun. You’ll find heroes to cheer, villains to boo, and more surprises than you can shake an arrow at!
There’s only one way to find out… Oh yes there is!
So, gather your Merry Band of family and friends and book your tickets today!
Get 10% off all full price and under 18s tickets when purchased before 1 April 2026.
Share the Magic of Panto – When booking your tickets, please consider purchasing an extra ticket for a child who may not otherwise be able to attend. Your generosity helps children supported by local charities, including Home-Start and Imago Young Carers Services, enjoy a truly magical panto experience. In the basket, you can donate a single ticket, a pair of tickets, a family ticket, or make a contribution towards a ticket, every gift helps create a day they’ll never forget.
A free pre-show Director’s talk.
A bank robbery, a family funeral, and a coffin with a shocking secret – nothing is off limits in this mischievous comedy of chaos! When a daring heist goes spectacularly wrong, the money ends up in the most unlikely hiding place, and the lies begin to pile up fast. What follows is a whirlwind of cover-ups, confusion and sheer audacity as everyone scrambles to stay ahead.
Orton’s masterpiece is packed with razor-sharp dialogue, physical mayhem and twists that spiral towards the absurd. Daring, dark and unmissably funny, nothing is off limits in this mischievous comedy of chaos!
Attend our FREE pre-show Director’s Talk on Mon 23 Feb at 6.30pm. Book your space here.
✭✭✭✭✭ “A clever play with razor sharp dialogue, farcical situations, and completely over the top characters.” Southend Theatre Scene
“This outstanding production of Loot is a must-see” The Havering Daily
“We very much enjoyed seeing this version of Loot” Jupiter Hadley
“A sharp swipe at authority, religion, and respectability.” Stagedoor Joe
Buckle up for a fast-paced family favourite as we race along the riverbank on a musical road trip following the outrageous Mr Toad on his high-speed adventures.
Ratty, Mole, Badger, and a host of other riverbank characters join this heart-warming story of fun and friendship which is sure to get your toes-tapping. But watch out for those Weasels!
Expect attitude, anarchy, and a whole lot of noise. Performed by over 180 youth theatre members, this twist on a classic tale is a musical adventure of boating, motor cars, and daring escapes. Poop, poop!
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.
This is a FREE pre-show event.
A workshop for writers who have had their first full-length play professionally performed and have shown a commitment to a career as a professional playwright.
Working with award winning Essex playwright/screen writer Kenny Emson, you will explore what it means to write for larger spaces and audiences.
The workshop will include writing exercises, tips on pitching and idea generation and look to help writers navigate the transition from studio spaces to mid-scale.
Funded by Arts Council England and free to attend.
Looking for something fun, free and creative to do this half term? Come along to Jack’s Bean Planting Party – a relaxed, drop-in afternoon of planting, crafting and panto-inspired fun for children and families, all themed around this year’s giant festive production of Jack and the Beanstalk! You can drop in any time between 2-4pm.
Join us in the QTH foyer, where tables will be set up for your little ones to explore their creativity and take home a little piece of the panto magic.
What to Expect
Bean Planting Table
Plant your very own magic bean in a pot to take home and grow – will yours reach the clouds like Jack’s?
Design a Dame Station
Create a dazzling costume for our fabulous Dame. Your artwork can be submitted as part of our Design a Dame competition, with some brilliant panto prizes to be won.
Colouring Corner
Choose from a selection of fun, fairy tale-themed colouring sheets – perfect for children who love to get arty.
Whether you drop in for ten minutes or stay for the full session, it’s a lovely, low-pressure way to enjoy a little theatre magic this school holiday.
Age guidance: Recommended for children aged 2–10, but all ages are welcome
Tickets are free, but booking is encouraged. Drop-ins are also welcome on the day (subject to space and materials).
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.
