Call Out: Donate your unwanted Stilettos for new play about female empowerment

People of Havering, are you guilty of having a pair of unloved or forgotten Stilettos tucked away at the back of your wardrobe? Dig them out and give them a stomping new lease of life at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch!

The Theatre is making a towering collection of Stilettos for its world premiere production Stiletto Beach and is in need of over a hundred unwanted heels. So whether you wore them once for a special occasion or have simply fallen out of love with them, bring your shoes along to the Queen’s Theatre and drop them off in the box in the foyer by Thursday 1 August. Don’t forget to write your name on the sole and be part of the show! Donators will also have the chance to share their memories of wearing the shoes, their views on what it means to be an Essex girl and their favourite thing about being from Essex when giving their shoes. These statements will contribute towards Stiletto Beach’s campaign on combating the ‘Essex Girl’ stereotype and celebrating strong Essex women.

Written by local playwright Sadie Hasler, Stiletto Beach is a funny, heart-warming and authentic new play about what it means to be an ‘Essex Girl’. The show runs at the Queen’s Theatre from 4 – 28 September as part of the Theatre’s Essex Girls and Boys season. For more information click here.

Rehearsals begin for second Public Acts production As You Like It produced by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch in partnership with the National Theatre

Following triumphant performances of Pericles at the National Theatre in summer 2018, the next Public Acts production of As You Like It starts rehearsals this week and will play from 24 – 27 August. Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s Artistic Director, Douglas Rintoul will direct this musical adaptation of the William Shakespeare classic.

Forced from their homes, Orlando, Duke Senior, his daughter Rosalind and niece Celia, escape to the Forest of Arden, a fantastical place where all are welcomed and embraced. Lost amidst the trees, they find community and acceptance under the stars.

This UK premiere sees more than one hundred community members, professional actors, and performance groups from across London, come together for this magical tale of faithful friends, feuding families and lovers in disguise. The Public Acts community partners are: Body & Soul, Bromley by Bow Centre, Coram, DABD, The Faith & Belief Forum, HASWA (Havering Asian Social Welfare Association), Open Age, Queen’s Community Group and Thames Reach.

The cast of professional actors include Beth Hinton-Lever (Hadestown, National Theatre), Linford Johnson (The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Park Theatre), Ebony Jonelle (Top Girls, National Theatre), Rohan Reckord (The Rat Pack, The Savoy) and Vedi Roy (Laila The Musical tour, Rifco Theatre Company/Watford Palace).The production will also feature several cameo groups who represent the cultural breadth of the city.

As You Like It is the second Public Acts production, the National Theatre’s new initiative to create extraordinary acts of theatre and community. The production forms part of a two-year partnership with community organisations who deliver visionary work in their communities, together with theatre partner Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch.

This version of As You Like It, adapted by Laurie Woolery and Shaina Taub, featuring music and lyrics by Shaina Taub, will be directed by the Queen’s Theatre’s Artistic Director Douglas Rintoul, and will feature set and costume design by Hayley Grindle, musical director Yshani Perinpanayagam, choreographer and movement director Sundeep Saini, lighting designer Paul Anderson, sound designer Leigh Davies and assistant director Jules Tipton. The score is infectious, with sounds ranging from calypso to pop, Broadway musical to soul. Live captioning and live audio description will be available at all five performances.

Douglas Rintoul, Director of this production said, ‘Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is thrilled to be the first theatre partner working with the National Theatre on their excellent Public Acts programme. I can’t wait for our stage here in Outer East London to be the home for As You Like It. The project is transforming lives, communities and organisations (ours included) and we are immensely proud that Hornchurch will be at the heart of that this summer.’

Emily Lim, Director of Public Acts, said, ‘We have had a wonderful second year deepening our relationships with all our exceptional community partners and the brilliant Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch. We can’t wait to bring everyone together to get started on rehearsals for our summer production. We are particularly excited to be working with a brand new creative team on this joyful, ambitious adaptation and to be welcoming lots of new community members to the company’.

Public Acts is inspired by Public Works, the Public Theater’s ground-breaking programme in New York and by the visionary participatory work of other theatres and artists across the UK.

Supported by Arts Council England’s Strategic Touring Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Hertz, Mr & Mrs A Mosawi, Simon & Sue Ruddick and Garfield Weston Foundation.

The National Theatre’s Partner for Learning is Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

For more information about As You Like It click here.

Interview with Public Acts Director Emily Lim on As You Like It

A company of over 100 community members, professional actors and performance groups from across London will come together to perform a musical adaptation of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It from 24 – 27 August.

Following triumphant performances of Pericles at the National Theatre in summer 2018, this is the second Public Acts production and will take over the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch stage.

Public Acts Director Emily Lim for the National Theatre talks about her involvement in this nationwide initiative to create extraordinary acts of theatre and community.

How did you first get involved with Public Acts?

I was part of the team who created the programme at the National Theatre two years ago. It’s been a brilliant experience so far putting lots of dreams into action! 

Did you have any experience in working in community theatre before?

Yes, I’ve spent most of my career to date working in community settings, exploring how theatre making can be a form of community building and activism. I’ve worked all over, both in the UK and internationally, in hospitals, schools, playgrounds, daycentres, and, of course, theatres. I’ve been very inspired by the work of companies like the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuala, Company Three, Slunglow, Rimini Protokoll, Commonwealth and the amazing Public Works programme in New York who have heavily influenced and supported the development of Public Acts – artists who show that participatory, inclusive work can be both artistically excellent and drive meaningful social change. 

What was your favourite moment from Pericles?

Such a hard question – there are too many to choose from! I’ll never forget the moment we first ran the show from start to finish as a whole company in rehearsals. The feeling was totally electric – everyone suddenly realising the fullness of what we’d made, understanding for the first time how everything pieced together, and everyone’s role within it. There were a lot of tears (the joyful, overwhelmed kind!). I also loved our first potluck lunch where everyone brought in food to share, a proper community feast and a really beautiful celebration of our commitment to one another as a company. 

How did you find working on such a large-scale production?

It’s the biggest thrill and the biggest privilege working with such a huge company of wonderful, giving, passionate people. It’s also, of course, exhausting, and there are too many spinning plates to keep count of, but that’s part of the fun! I always say that the logistics are inseparable from the art with this kind of work, and attention to detail is everything. We have to make sure every person in our company feels as cared for and as valued as possible, whether that means co-ordinating a surprise delivery of ice lollies half way through a very hot rehearsal (as happened last year when we ended up rehearsing through a heatwave…), or helping someone to work out their travel or childcare arrangements. It’s an enormous group effort – it doesn’t work if people aren’t willing to really come together, and we have an incredible team of people working day and night to make it all happen. 

How has the process been different working on As You Like It compared to Pericles last year?

We’re working on existing material this year, which means there’s been a very different development process compared to last year when we were commissioning an original piece. Laurie and Shaina’s adaptation of the original text is so fantastic, and there’s something really lovely about knowing all the songs off by heart before we get to rehearsals – I’m going to have to stop myself singing along! We’re also welcoming lots of new people to the company for the first time, which is wonderful. 

What are you most looking forward to on this production?

I think I’m probably most excited about rehearsals, and getting to spend the summer with our extraordinary community again. It’s a company of the most huge hearted and inspiring individuals; every time we’re together I come away feeling affirmed about life and more hopeful about the world. It sounds like an exaggeration but it’s true! 

What have you learnt through your experience with community theatre and Public Acts?

So much, I’m learning all the time. A few things that feel the most relevant at the moment are:

1) Two of the best and most binding things a group of people can do together are dance and eat. (Not at the same time – though maybe we should try that!?)

2) High expectations go a really, really long way – handled right, ambition can be one of the most empowering and dignifying forces.

3) Alot of the principles that make great theatre make great community: being open, being kind, being patient, being brave, listening hard, putting yourself second, and looking for the promise in any given situation and any person.

4) Long cycle rides home after rehearsals are the best way to decompress, unwind and process what on earth just happened!

5) Unity through radical joy. That’s one of the mantras from the Public Works team, and the one I try and hold onto tightest of all, in work and in life. Joy shouldn’t be radical, but often it is.

What’s next for Public Acts after As You Like It?

We’re so excited to be heading up to Doncaster next year in partnership with the brilliant Cast Theatre. We’re in the process of finalising which community partners we’ll be working with and are assembling an amazing creative team of artists to lead the production there in 2021. Work starts in earnest in September, we can’t wait! Beyond that we’re cooking up plans for what happens in the future, trying to learn as much as possible from these first two years and think about what the most impactful and exciting next steps for the programme can be, as a social and artistic movement.

As You Like It runs from 24 – 27 August at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch. For more information about As You Like It, Public Acts and to book tickets click here.

Summer holiday fun for kids includes the West End smash-hit We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is excited to present its variety of shows and workshops to keep children entertained during the summer holidays. From songs and stories to music and crafts, there’s something for kids big and small to enjoy.

Taking over the Theatre’s main stage from 30 July to 1 August is the ‘brilliantly inventive and engaging’ (The Stage) smash-hit production, We’re Going on A Bear Hunt direct from London’s West End. Families with little ones aged 3+ can join a group of fearless adventurers and their musical dog on a quest to find a bear; as they wade through the gigantic swishy swashy grass, the splishy splashy river and the thick oozy, squelchy mud! Expect catchy songs, interactive scenes, plenty of adventure and a few surprises along the way. Be warned, the ending is not quite the same as the much-loved picture book by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. Tickets are £12.50 per person and £10 for groups of 10 (plus 65p QNew Transformation Fee). Performances take place at 1.30pm and 4.30pm on Tuesday 30 July; 10.30am, 1.30pm and 4.30pm on Wednesday 31 July and 1.30pm on Thursday 1 August. A relaxed performance is also available at 10.30am on Thursday 1 August. Bookings for the relaxed performance can only be made by calling the Box Office on 01708 443333 or in person at the Theatre.

Children aged 9 – 16 who love musicals have a wonderful opportunity to participate in Musical in a Week from Monday 5 – Friday 9 August. Youngsters will work with a director and musical director to produce a condensed version of a well-known musical and perform it at the Queen’s Theatre to family and friends. Places are £100 and the workshops run from 10am – 4pm daily.

For those that love getting creative there’s a range of jam-packed Create & Play Mornings from Tuesday 23 July to Wednesday 31 July. Themes include Surprising Superheroes (23 July), Puppet Pirates (24 July), Beside the Seaside (30 July) and Daring Dragons (31 July). 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, and parents can book three sessions for the price of two.

Fans of Little Mix will be able to sing and dance along to all of their favourite pop hits with the high-energy tribute show We Love Little Mix on Saturday 17 August at 7pm. Tickets are £16 (plus 65p QNew Transformation fee) and the show is suitable for all ages.

For more information about the Queen’s Theatre visit queens-theatre.co.uk

Interview with Director Douglas Rintoul on As You Like It

This August, a company of over 100 community members, professional actors and performance groups from across London will come together to perform a musical adaptation of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It.

Following triumphant performances of Pericles at the National Theatre in summer 2018, this is the second Public Acts production and will take over the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch stage from 24 – 27 August.

Public Acts is a nationwide initiative to create extraordinary acts of theatre and community. Artistic Director Douglas Rintoul at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch has spoken out about directing this inspirational production.

Public Acts is an extraordinary celebration of real London communities. How do you feel working on such an inspirational project and bringing everyone together?

For two years, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and the National Theatre have been working with nine inspirational social change organisations from right across London as part of the NT’s Public Acts programme,, including three close to the Queen’s Theatre. The tremendous positivity the project generates in individuals, the organisations, including the National Theatre and ourselves, has blown me away. None of us will be the same. It has opened minds and hearts and created a genuine sense of connectivity right across London.

How was the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch selected as the first theatre partner on Public Acts?

A couple of years back, the National Theatre came to the Queen’s Theatre and worked with some of our community members.  The NT was keen to reach out into Outer London so this combined our long history of community engagement. We’re a community hub and we engage over 12,000 people a year which meant we were the ideal partner. I’m very proud that the Theatre is the first theatre partner in this UK-wide project. 

After Pericles, how was As You Like It chosen as the next Public Acts production?

About 18 months ago Rufus Norris, the Artistic Director of the National Theatre and Emily Lim, Director of Public Acts, asked what the second year of the programme could look like. I had seen footage of the brilliant Public Works performances from the Public Theater in New York (NT Public Acts is the sister project to the Public Theater’s Public Works). They had made an excellent and contemporary adaptation of As You Like It. I said, let’s do that.  With our long history of innovative and popular musical adaptations of Shakespeare, it felt like the right fit. 

How do you feel about directing a cast of over 100 people? This surely has to be your biggest production to date!?

This is my most significant production! The great thing about this show is, it’s not about me. It’s exhilarating to be supporting such a talented, inspirational and energised company.  I can’t wait to start rehearsals. 

That’s a lot of people in one building! How has the planning and logistics process been to make this happen?

This project has been in the making for over 18 months. Our Learning & Participation team, as well as pretty much every other member of the staff in the Theatre and the National Theatre Public Acts team, has been working tirelessly to make this project happen. You should see the pile of paperwork that Mathew our Executive Director has on his desk – it could bring the whole office down.  You should also see the size of the spreadsheets!

What are you most looking forward to on this production?

Seeing the cast in action in performance. 

Has there been anything else like this in the Queen’s Theatre’s 65-year history?

We have a long history of community musicals, but we’ve never had an intergenerational community company this large and one made up of members from right across London before. It’s also our first partnership with the National Theatre!

What do you hope audiences will take away from the performance?

This is going to be the biggest and best theatre event of the summer – not just in Havering but in London. It’s unmissable. This will be one audiences will never forget. 

As You Like It runs from 24 – 27 August at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch. For more information about As You Like It, Public Acts and to book tickets click here

Cake & A Cuppa Day raises over £1,700 at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch

On Thursday 12 June, the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch hosted their first Cake & A Cuppa Day in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society and the Theatre. After being kindly match funded by Barclays Hornchurch, the event raised over £1,751.72, which will be equally shared between the two charities.

Members of the community enjoyed a range of delicious cupcakes, cakes and biscuits all generously donated by Queen’s Theatre staff, Havering Dementia Action Alliance and Tesco’s Roneo Corner. Fairlytes Singers entertained and got everyone dancing in the foyer with their memorable songs. Important information on support and care was provided by the Action Alliance, Alzheimer’s Society and Radfield Home Care.

Tom Lowe, Relationships Officer at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch said ‘Thank you to everyone involved making it such a wonderful first event for the whole community to participate and enjoy. The Theatre creates such a broad range of dementia friendly activities, it was great to work with Alzheimer’s Society.’

The Alzheimer’s Society is the only UK charity that campaigns for change, funds research to find a cure and supports people living with dementia today. Their wide range of support services ensures nobody has to face dementia alone. People with dementia have mentioned how difficult it is to find out who to turn to or where to go for information and support.

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch aims to ensure a positive experience for everyone that comes to the Theatre – whether it is to see a show, use its café or participate in one of its many drama workshops or community projects. The Theatre creates numerous projects aimed at people with dementia to enable them to continue enjoying and participating in the arts.

Queen’s Theatre receives £5,000 of Capital funding from Equity Charitable Trust

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is delighted to announce it has been awarded a £5,000 capital funding grant from the Equity Charitable Trust towards upgrading its green room facilities as part of its QNew Transformation Programme. These funds will be combined with the £5,000 grant the Theatre received in February from Theatre Trusts’ London Small Theatres Grants Scheme to make the space more accessible.

With rehearsals now taking place for the Queen’s Theatre’s produced work in its newly built rehearsal space on-site, the Theatre is striving to encourage D/deaf and disabled persons to be better represented on its main stage. This investment towards making the green room more accessible and suited to their needs will play a vital role in making users feel welcome and offer them a practical space to relax and socialise with others. This will involve purchasing new equipment and making adaptions to its current kitchen layout with adjustable fittings and appliances to accommodate everyone’s needs.

Milton Johns, Chairman at Equity Charitable Trust says, ‘I played the Queen’s Theatre back in the sixties and I am delighted it is still going strong and that we at the Equity Charitable Trust are able to help with this admirable work.’

Mathew Russell, Executive Director at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch says, ‘We’d like to say a massive thank you to the Equity Charitable Trust for this generous grant. The funds will make an important contribution towards improving the accessibility of our green room for actors, creatives and staff to enjoy for years to come.’

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.

In addition to its newly built rehearsal space, the project has delivered a stylish new Q Bar on the ground level, offering better accessibility for audiences, a number of urgent and essential backstage improvements as well as developments towards the creation of a new Learning & Participation Space in the lower foyer.

For more information about QNew click here.

Cake & A Cuppa Day at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch will be hosting a Cake & A Cuppa Day in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society and Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch on Thursday 13 June, between 12pm and 2pm in its foyer.

On the day, Fairlytes Choir will be performing some memorable songs with participants from the Alzheimer’s Society’s Singing for the Brain group, which uses singing and activities to bring together people with dementia or memory loss. There will of course be plenty of cake and many pots of tea!

The Alzheimer’s Society is the only UK charity that campaigns for change, funds research to find a cure and supports people living with dementia today. Their wide range of support services ensures nobody has to face dementia alone. People with dementia have mentioned how difficult it is to find out who to turn to or where to go for information and support.

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch aims to ensure a positive experience for everyone that comes to the Theatre – whether it is to see a show, use its café or participate in one of its many drama workshops or community projects. The Theatre creates numerous projects aimed at people with dementia to enable them to continue enjoying and participating in the arts.

The event is free to attend and donations very much appreciated. All funds raised are being equally split between the two charities with match funding from Barclays Hornchurch.

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch shares latest developments under its QNew Transformation programme

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch has released details of the latest developments it has experienced under its QNew Transformation programme including more capital funding and upgraded equipment.

Back in January and February this year, the Theatre campaigned to bag a capital grant from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative together with Groundwork London towards its Q Access strand of the £1 million pound QNew Transformation project. Voted by customers in the local area, the Theatre is delighted to have been awarded the top prize of £4,000. This grant will be used towards refurbishing its two disabled toilets and the installation of a push button powered operated door. These essential changes will ensure all visitors have better access to facilities that accommodate their needs.

Alec Brown, Tesco’s Head of Community, said: ‘Bags of Help has been a fantastic success and we’ve been overwhelmed by the response from customers, who get to decide how the money will be spent in their community.’

Alex Forrester, Corporate Partnerships Manager, Groundwork London: ‘It’s always fantastic to see projects being given the chance to make a real difference within their local communities through Bags of Help. We’re proud to play a part in this scheme in partnership with Tesco to help community projects get the opportunities they deserve to develop and flourish.’

Groundwork London is a social and environmental charity who help the capital’s local communities build resilience. Groundwork is administering the Bags of Help programme in partnership with Tesco.

New sprung oak floorboard effect flooring has been laid in the Theatre’s new rehearsal space to provide a degree of bounce that flexes under impact. Performers need a floor to absorb the shock of repeated impact to their joints and reduce injury from falls. This follows the recent installation of new windows, a curtain rail and mirror curtains, cork boards, coat hooks and wifi, which have helped make the space more practical and stimulating for actors and creatives to work in.

A new washing machine has been installed in the Theatre’s laundry room which will provide the Wardrobe Manager with better facilities to maintain costumes. The Theatre has its own Wardrobe Department where costumes are lovingly created on-site for its produced productions. The Theatre’s workshop has also had its paint bridge refurbished to increase its longevity, which enables its scenic artists to paint cloths and scenery at height safely. The paint bridge is an asset to the Theatre as there are not many paint bridges left in London.

The Theatre has been fundraising towards innovating the iconic building since September with contributions coming from capital grants, donations and the Theatre’s introduction of a 65p QNew Transformation fee. This came into effect on the Theatre’s 65th birthday, Friday 21 September 2018. Since then, customers have already helped the Theatre raise a public contribution towards QNew of £48899.30.

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.

Queen’s Theatre is awarded £50,000 capital grant from Veolia Havering Riverside Maintenance Trust towards QNew

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch has been awarded a £50,000 capital grant from Veolia Havering Riverside Maintenance Trust towards its on-going QNew Transformation Programme.  

The Theatre will use this generous grant to upgrade its foyer lighting system to use LED lights, giving its audiences the benefit of an improved experience before the show, whilst enjoying a meal or participating in activities. By converting its current incandescent bulbs to LED lights, the Theatre estimates it will reduce total CO2 emissions by 7.5 tonnes annually.

The funds will also go towards lighting its new Learning & Participation space in the lower foyer. With the Theatre now working with over 30,000 participants ever year, this dedicated new space will enable the team to work with a broader range of participants with varying needs; providing great theatre for all and create new opportunities to engage with adults, young people, community and teachers for a wide range of educational and participatory work.

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.

So far, the project has delivered a brand new rehearsal space on site at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and a stylish new Q Bar on the ground level, offering better accessibility for audiences, as well as making a number of urgent and essential backstage improvements.

Mathew Russell, Executive Director at the Queen’s Theatre says ‘We’d like to say a huge thank you to Veolia Havering Riverside Maintenance Trust for their generous support towards such a crucial part of our QNew project. With this grant we will be able to improve the experience for all our visitors and improve our environmental performance’.

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

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