Author: Grace Coppin

Since its opening night on 31 October, The Beauty Queen of Leenane has had rave reviews from press!

‘Amusing and poignant in equal measure, this production provides its audiences with a sharp, detailed and observant portrayal on the various conflicts life throws at us.’

✰✰✰✰ – London Theatre 1

‘With accomplished, subtly powerful acting ‘The Beauty Queen of Leenane’ hooks the audience into the corrosive, emotional entanglement with suspense and engaging wit.’

✰✰✰✰ – Spyinthestalls

‘it movingly touches in some way on the lives of everyone and especially of those who feel trapped in places and relationships.’

-Broadway Baby

A tragic story, so dark it’s funny… it is unique and wholly mesmerising.

-Romford Recorder

The play begins as a twisted comedy but leaves the audience open mouthed with a shockingly evil turn. It was definitely a roller coaster of a night and this definitely left me wanting more’

-Hornchurch Life

The Beauty Queen of Leenane runs until 16 November, get booking for this unmissable production now!

Bows at the ready! Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is bringing their traditional panto spectacular, the heroic Robin Hood, playing from Thursday 28 November to Sunday 5 January.

Deep in the heart of his foreboding Castle, the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham is taxing the poor to pile up his gold, whilst imprisoning brave Maid Marian and her hilarious Nanny Fanny. But the Sheriff hasn’t banked on the arrow slinging hero Robin emerging from Sherwood Forest to target the hand of Marion and outwit the villain’s plans. Can Robin save the day with a little help from his band of Friar Tuck and plucky Merry Folk?

John Barr, who garnered rave reviews for his turn as Dame Dotty Trott in 2018’s Jack and the Beanstalk, returns as Nanny Fanny, Maid Marian’s hilarious nurse, and is sure to delight audiences and critics alike. He says ‘I am overjoyed to be returning to Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch in Robin Hood, it’s a fantastic theatre and I can’t wait to see all the boys and girls, mums and dads, nannies and grandads again this Christmas!’

Written by Andrew Pollard and directed by Douglas Rintoul (the Queen’s Theatre’s Artistic Director), this actor-musician panto is twanging to the beats of pop hits from across the decades, traditional audience participation and laugh out loud family silliness.

Over 50% of the tickets are now sold, so audiences need to get their skates on to book for this Sheriff-busting Christmas adventure!

The Queen’s Theatre has also confirmed it will be providing two adapted shows on Thursday 2 January, a Dementia-Friendly performance at 1.30pm and a Relaxed Performance at 5.30pm (for people who would benefit from a quieter environment including those with an Autism Spectrum Condition, sensory and communication disorders or a learning disability), as well as an Audio-Described performance on Saturday 4 January at 2pm.

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is also overjoyed to announce Romford McDonalds as principal sponsor of this year’s pantomime, Robin Hood. This sponsorship will play a vital role in making Robin Hood an unforgettable show and spread the festive fun throughout Havering.

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is overjoyed to announce Romford McDonalds as principal sponsor of this year’s pantomime, Robin Hood. This sponsorship will play a vital role in making Robin Hood an unforgettable show and spread the festive fun throughout Havering.

Romford McDonald‘s franchisee Gerry Byrne said, ‘It’s great to be supporting such a major part of our community and the excellent work the Theatre produces.’

Douglas Rintoul, Artistic Director at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch said, ‘A massive thank you to Romford McDonald’s. We are really looking forward to working with them over this festive period and provide the very best in family entertainment to as wide an audience as possible. It is fantastic that Romford McDonald’s are leading the way, investing in the culture of our borough.’

This support follows the £4000 contribution Romford McDonalds made to the Theatre’s QNew project in November 2018, which is transforming the facilities for developing high quality theatre and meet the needs of today’s audiences and participants

Robin Hood will be directed by Douglas Rintoul (the Queen’s Theatre’s Artistic Director) with choreography by Sundeep Saini and musical direction by Tom Self. This heroic panto spectacular will be playing from Thursday 28 November to Sunday 5 January.

For more information about QNew visit queens-theatre.co.uk/qnew/q-new-transformation/

The Queen’s Theatre has also confirmed it will be providing two adapted shows on Thursday 2 January, a Dementia-Friendly performance at 1.30pm and a Relaxed Performance at 5.30pm (for people who would benefit from a quieter environment including those with an Autism Spectrum Condition, sensory and communication disorders or a learning disability), as well as an Audio-Described performance on Saturday 4 January at 2pm.

• Macbeth, co-production of a Shakespeare classic with Derby Theatre, followed by a national tour
• World premiere of Maggie May by award winning theatre, TV and radio writer Frances Poet, co-produced with Leeds Playhouse
• World premiere of a brand new musical by Douglas Rintoul, Love Letters, celebrating the very best of Essex, followed by a national tour

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch has today announced its Spring 2020 season, which will include a revival of Shakespeare’s bloodiest thriller, Macbeth. The revival continues the Theatre’s tradition of quality, classic drama and will be directed by Douglas Rintoul, following his acclaimed productions of Much Ado About Nothing and UK tour of The Crucible. Most recently, Douglas has directed this Summer’s highlight musical adaptation of As You Like It; a European premiere in partnership with the National Theatre. This co-production with Derby Theatre follows successful collaborations on Abigail’s Party, Abi and One Man, Two Guvnors. The show will then go on a national tour, with the Theatre making its first visit to Perth Theatre, and returning to long-term partner New Wolsey Theatre. The production is in response to the feedback from a ‘Learning Lounge’, where local teachers made suggestions about which plays on the secondary school curriculum they would like to see performed. After the huge success of Spring 2019’s production of DNA by Dennis Kelly, which was attended by 39 schools coming from as far as Leeds, Macbeth has already secured thousands of bookings from 23 schools.

The Theatre teams up with Leeds Playhouse for the very first time to produce the world premiere of Maggie May. This heart-warming drama by award-winning theatre, TV and radio writer Frances Poet is a warm, humorous and uplifting story, infused with familiar music, all about enduring love.

Finally, a brand new musical written and directed by Douglas Rintoul, Love Letters, tells the story of an unposted love letter meant to be sent between a passionate young couple‎ dating, only to be delivered many years later. With a raft of brilliant songs from Essex’s very best‎, with hits ranging from the 60s to today, this funny and popular working class love story promises to be an uplifting night out for everyone proudly calling Essex their home. The production marks the next step in the Theatre’s Essex On Stage programme, going on to tour to Towngate Theatre in Basildon and Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford.

The season launch was delivered from the Theatre’s brand new QLearning Space, opening today, 24 October. This new space was created as part of the QNew project; a renovation of the Theatre’s iconic building for artists, participants and audiences alike. The QLearning Space is a new and energising dedicated space for the Theatre’s expanding range of learning and participatory work with young people and the local community, situated in the heart of the theatre and easily accessible to everyone. Further QNew developments include a new LED lighting system in the auditorium and foyer, which will help towards a 70% reduction in energy, and renovation of the old education room into the QArtist Space. This space will be dedicated to developing new theatre, and will be available to artists throughout the year for research and development, readings and sharings. This is an important step in increasing the support the Theatre can offer to emerging theatre companies and local talent and the ambitions recognised in the Outer Limits programme.

The QNew project has been made possible by contributions from Arts Council England, London Borough of Havering, Veolia Maintenance Trust, Ian McKellen On Stage, The Theatre Trust, Equity Charitable Trust, Tesco Bags of Help, McDonalds Romford, Fowler, Smith & Jones, Rotary Club of Brentwood á Becket and money raised from the QNew Transformation Fee.

Martin McDonagh’s (In Bruges, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) The Beauty Queen of Leenane, co-produced by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and Hull Truck Theatre, has opened to critical acclaim at Hull Truck Theatre on Tuesday 8 October. This is the second co-production between Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and Hull Truck Theatre, after the landmark revival of The Hired Man in Spring 2019. This pitch-black comedy opened at Hull Truck Theatre on 8 October, and runs until 26 October. It then transfers to Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 30 October – 16 November.

‘This expert revival, directed by Mark Babych, is mesmerising from the moment you walk into the theatre right through to the haunting and horrifying conclusion: a lurid tale of sex, violence, physical and emotional abuse that makes for a thoroughly enjoyable night at the theatre’ – On Magazine

‘The warring nature of their relationship is brilliantly captured by Siobhan O’Kelly as Maureen and Maggie McCarthy as Mag’ – Hull Daily Mail

The play is directed by Hull Truck Theatre’s Artistic Director, Mark Babych and he is assisted by Maureen Lennon (co-founder of Bellow Theatre and Associate Artist for Middle Child). The production features design by Sara Perks, lighting design by Jessica Addinall and sound design and composition by Adam McCready.

The cast includes Nicholas Boulton (Imperium, RSC and West End), Maggie McCarthy (Children of the Sun, National Theatre), Siobhan O’Kelly (All My Sons, Watermill Theatre) and Laurence Pybus (Death of a Salesman, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland).

Mark Babych, Artistic Director at Hull Truck Theatre, says: ‘We are thrilled to be working with the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch again and I know that the company are really looking forward to sharing this wonderful story with audiences there after its run in Hull. The Hired Man was such a great experience for us that we jumped at the chance of working together on The Beauty Queen of Leenane. Our production and creative teams have been working closely together to ensure that audiences get the richest possible experience in both our theatres.’

This October sees the launch of Outer Limits Southend, a two-day festival celebrating Essex creatives. Featuring play-readings, theatre, poetry, storytelling, spoken word, music, panel discussions and talks, the festival takes place throughout the weekend at Metal in Chalkwell Hall on Saturday 12 October, and at The Railway Hotel on Sunday 13 October.

The festival runs from 12-11pm on Saturday 12 October and from 3-11pm on Sunday 13 October. Highlights of the festival include a panel discussion on Women Who Create Art, performances from Brigitte Aphrodite and Quiet Boy, and an intimate hometown session from musician Sam Duckworth of Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly.

Following on from their immensely successful Essex Girls and Boys season, Outer Limits Southend is the latest step in the Theatre’s Essex On Stage programme. Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is reuniting with Sadie Hasler, co-Artistic Director of Old Trunk Theatre. Her play Stiletto Beach, was commissioned by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch as part of Essex On Stage, and had its world premiere at the Theatre in September.

Essex on Stage is an ambitious new two year programme led by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, championing positive notions of Essex, celebrating theatre made by working class people and raising aspirations for emerging artists from Essex and Outer East London. The programme has been made possible by the generous support of The Clothworkers’ Foundation.

Old Trunk Theatre is a two-woman theatrical operation. They are dedicated to creating strong roles for women, in plays about women, driven by women. Their first two-hander, Pramkicker, an unrelentingly sharp comedy about what it means to be a modern woman, published by Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, was invited to be part of the King’s Head Theatre‘s 40 year anniversary celebration of new writing.

Outer Limits Southend runs at Metal on Saturday 12 October and at The Railway Hotel on Sunday 13 October. Tickets are free, but booking in advance is recommended. Tickets can be booked by calling the Box Office on 01708 443333, in person at the theatre or by clicking here.

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is delighted to announce that John Barr, who garnered rave reviews for his turn as Dame Dotty Trott in 2018’s Jack and the Beanstalk, will be returning for this year’s pantomime, Robin Hood. This heroic panto spectacular will be playing from Thursday 28 November to Sunday 5 January.

‘Barr is excellently cast. He is funny, innocently rude and endearing.’ The Reviews Hub on Jack and the Beanstalk

‘Dame Dotty Totty unquestionably stole the show with her witty banter.’ What’s Good To Do on Jack and the Beanstalk

John Barr returns as Nanny Fanny, Maid Marian’s hilarious nurse, and is sure to delight audiences and critics alike. He says ‘He’s Back!!! She’s back!!!  I’m just so thrilled to have been asked back to be ‘The Dame’ of The Queens Theatre Hornchurch Panto again, I had the best time last year. I truly love Panto and this Theatre holds a special place in my heart. And I’m so excited to start working with Doug Rintoul and Tom Self on this years Panto ‘Robin Hood’

Written by Andrew Pollard and directed by Douglas Rintoul (the Queen’s Theatre’s Artistic Director), this swashbuckling actor-musician panto is twanging to the beats of pop hits from across the decades, traditional audience participation and laugh out loud family silliness.

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch has also confirmed it will be providing two adapted shows on Thursday 2 January, a Dementia-Friendly performance at 1.30pm and a Relaxed Performance at 5.30pm (for people who would benefit from a quieter environment including those with an Autism Spectrum Condition, sensory and communication disorders or a learning disability), as well as an Audio-Described performance on Saturday 4 January at 2pm.

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch would like to thank its principal sponsor for the 2019 pantomime, Romford McDonalds, as well as show sponsor FRP Advisory and media partner Time 107.FM

For further details and to book, call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or visit queens-theatre.co.uk.

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch has updated its auditorium lighting in a bid to be more environmentally friendly, and to increase the visibility for audiences pre and post show in the auditorium. This is the most recent development in the Theatre’s QNew programme, which celebrates the Theatre’s 65^th Birthday with a refreshing facelift for artists, participants and audiences alike.

The Theatre has upgraded its auditorium lighting system to use LED lights, giving its audiences the benefit of an improved theatrical experience. By converting its current incandescent bulbs to LED lights, the Theatre estimates it will reduce total CO2 emissions by 7.5 tonnes annually. The upgrade is funded by contributions from the Theatre’s introduction of a 65p QNew Transformation fee on the Theatre’s 65th birthday, Friday 21 September 2018. Customers have already helped the Theatre raise a public contribution towards QNew of £65,230.50

Christine Piper, Head of Production at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, says: ‘Over the summer we changed the lights in the auditorium over to energy-efficient LED lights. As well as saving on electricity it has also allowed us to get a brighter, more even coverage of lighting over the seats and gangways.’

QNew is an exciting programme of building improvements which will allow the Theatre to make high quality theatre in developed spaces, work with more young people and community groups, offer an increasingly comfortable experience to audiences, be more open and accessible to D/deaf and disabled people, and keep the Theatre alive as a safe and environmentally friendly community hub, well into the future.

From songs and stories to music and crafts, the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is excited to present a variety of children’s entertainment this October half-term!

Taking over the theatre’s main stage on 22 and 23 October is the most delightful tale of friendship and bravery ever to be seen on stage, Tabby McTat! This magical, musical show has songs, laughter and a heart-warming tale of friendship for children aged 3+ and their grown-ups. The production is based on the award-winning book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler and tickets are £13 (plus 65p QNew Transformation Fee).

Fans of String-a-long-a-Puppet’s puppet shows such as Hansel and Gretel can sing along with the swashbuckling adventure The Pirate Squad & the Search for Mermaid’s Lagoon, on 19 October at 10.30am and 12pm. This original puppet show packed with audience participation and catchy songs, and suitable for ages 2+. Tickets are £5 for children and £10 for adults.

We also have the delightful Back In Time For Breakfast on 26 October at 11.30am. This wonderful show features playful puppetry, interactive sets, imaginative storytelling and much more! It is suitable for ages 3+ and tickets cost £10 for adults and £5 for a child, with £25 family tickets (2 adults, 2 children).

For the budding scientists there’s the fabulous Bubble Science Show on 24 October at 1pm. This wonderous sixty-minute show combines breath-taking artistry, surprising science, plenty of audience participation and enough spellbinding bubble tricks.

For those that love getting creative there’s a range of jam-packed Create & Play Mornings on Thursday 24 October and Friday 25 October. Themes include Mischevious Monsters and Ghostly Ghouls. Little ones aged 4 – 6 years will be able to use their imagination and enjoy two hours of creative fun involving drama games, storytelling and craft activities. Workshops run from 10am – 12 noon and cost £10.

Highlights also include a Musical Theatre Masterclass for those who love performing (Wednesday 23 October at 10am for 6-9 years and at 1pm for 10-14 years) and a Street Dance Masterclass taught by an industry professional (Tuesday 22 October at 10am for 6-9 years and 1pm for 10-14 years).

For more information and to book tickets for any of these shows or workshops call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or book online.