Author: Grace Coppin

Following 2018’s highly successful first year; the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s Take Part Festival is back, showcasing fantastic work performed and presented by young local talent from Sunday 14 April to Friday 19 April. This includes the Theatre’s own youth theatre and dance groups as well as brilliant school and community groups. This year’s Take Part Festival is kindly sponsored by L&Q Barking Riverside, a brand new town in East London.

Last year’s Take Part Festival comprised of three participation events over five nights and was hosted by 21 youth companies (including 7 of the Theatre’s own groups) that presented 29 performances, featuring 349 young people. The festival attracted an audience of 1,035 people!

Kick-starting this year’s six day festival is the Queen’s Theatre’s annual dance showcase First Feat on Sunday 14 April at 7pm. Hosted by dance artist Tyrone Isaac-Stuart, the evening celebrates the creative and diversity of young dancers in East London and Essex. Tickets are £7.50.   

From Monday 15 April to Wednesday 17 April at 7pm, the Queen’s Theatre will host six youth companies presenting brand new work as part of NT Connections Festival 2019. The NT Connections festival is a celebration of young people, theatre-making and the importance of access to the arts. Each year, the National Theatre commissions ten new plays for young people to perform, bringing together some of the most exciting emerging playwrights with the theatre-makers of tomorrow.  On Monday 15 April audiences will be able to enjoy two dramatic performances from Anglo European School, who will be performing The Sad Club by Luke Barnes and music by Adam Pleeth, and Class by Ben Bailey Smith & Lajaune Lincoln, presented by Nu.Dynamic Theatre Company.  The festival continues with unique performances from Ormiston Rivers Academy with Ageless by Benjamin Kuffuor, and Rob Drummond’s Flesh, performed by Rainham Mark Grammar School on Tuesday 16 April. Concluding the NT Connections Festival is another dynamic take of The Sad Club presented by Store Room Youth Theatre, and the Queen’s Theatre’s Youth Company perform the thought-provoking Chaos by Laura Lomas. Tickets for all six performances are £6.

Thursday 18 and Friday 19 April from 7pm sees two jam-packed evenings of vibrant, original youth theatre exploring the themes of home, journeys and belonging, with X-Roads, the QYouth One Act Play Festival. Over 160 young performers aged between 6 and 18 will be presenting a collection of scripted and devised performances, collated and directed by the Theatre’s team of tutors. Tickets are £10.

James Watson, Head of Learning & Participation, at the Queen’s Theatre says, ‘Growing on last year’s success, the Take Part Festival is a celebration of young local talent, featuring performers aged 6-18. We are immensely proud of the young people we work with and of the visiting groups who are bringing work to share with us. This platform allows young people the opportunity to share their authentic voice, to make bold decisions, and explore their curiosity for the world they experience. I am excited to witness this year’s thrilling offering of dance and drama.’

For more information about Take Part Festival and tickets call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or visit queens-theatre.co.uk

1. What is Approaching Empty about?
   Approaching Empty is the story of two lifelong friends and a business deal… and we know those things rarely end well! It’s also about family, community, about the choices we make and how we feel about them with the passage of time.
2. How is it relatable to working-class communities in East London / Essex?
   The play is set in a cab-office in Middleborough, but quite easily could be a back street garage in Hornchurch with Harry and Jack, or Mary and June in a greasy spoon café in Barking. The two main protagonists worked in factories together, were made redundant together and then one of them used his redundancy to pay off his mortgage. The other used it to open a business. Now it is many years later and they are both painfully aware of their mortality and the legacy they are going to leave. I think that this is a story that has been played out in many communities up and down the country. Really, the fact that it is Mansha and Raf as opposed to Harry and Jack is because I know this world intimately. I think the play examines class and our aspirations, those that we set ourselves and those that are imposed upon us. This is what makes the play universal and hopefully relatable to all regardless of our geographical location.
3. How much of this play is inspired by your time as a taxi driver?
   The title Approaching Empty is a phrase that always stuck with me from days as a cabbie. When a driver is asked where they are, he may reply “I’m approaching empty”(soon to be empty and ready for another job). Even back then, I always thought this would make a great title for a play. Many of my cab driver friends that have come to see the show have been impressed by the authenticity of the setting and how it feels so real which is really pleasing. As a writer, you are always told “write what you know”. It felt natural for me to set a play in this location and bring to life these characters that we have all had dealings with but perhaps, don’t see what goes on when the drivers aren’t going from A to B.
4. Rina Fatania’s character Sameena brings some lighter moments to this drama. Can you tell us more about her character?
   Sameena is a character that I’ve always wanted to write. I see many women around me that are not just victims, but are strong, feisty and driven. Sameena is very much in this mould. She has made some bad choices but as the play unfolds we realise that it was circumstance that drove her to them. Now she wants to put that behind her and rebuild her life. In order for her to do that, she must assert herself. I also wanted to write a female character that doesn’t take any prisoners and is outwardly fearless – she certainly is that!
5. How did you get into playwriting?
   I got into playwriting purely by accident. I’d bought a computer for my young daughters and used to resent the fact that it sat there for a majority of the time, (the girls would come home from school and use it for a while and then get a bath and go to bed). I was working one night and heard an advert looking for short radio plays with a sporting theme. I got the idea that I’d use the computer to write a play and enter this competition. I was convinced that someone at the BBC would read my effort and think, “what a git!” but to my complete surprise, they called me and said that they loved my play and were going to produce it. This was a really important moment because the idea that a cab driver from Middlesbrough was allowed to write was alien to me. I then starting entering competitions and attending writing workshops, really working at getting the tools required to become a professional writer. It has taken me a long time but I eventually got there and now write for theatre, TV and film!
6. Why do you like working with Tamasha?
   Tamasha is an incredible company that has been producing diverse work for over 25 years. Amongst its many productions over the years are the play (and later film) East is East and my own play Snookered. It’s a company that looks for and nurtures talent that would otherwise slip through the cracks and invests heavily in developing stories that would otherwise go unheard. My own journey with Tamasha has been fantastic! From them producing my first full-length play, Snookered, to working together on numerous other projects, including Taxi Tales which was aired on the BBC last year and is available on YouTube. I look forward to working again with them in the near future.
7. What other TV / Theatre projects have you worked on?
   It has been an incredibly busy and fulfilling time for me since turning professional. I’ve had the pleasure of helping develop and writing on the Channel 4 series Ackley Bridge. I’m working on a really fantastic project with Bend it like Beckham director Gurinder Chadda on a film screenplay. I’m also developing a play with the Royal Shakespeare Company that is really exciting but is still in the early stages. Of course, there is another play to write for Tamasha! This will be the third in a trilogy of which Approaching Empty is the second.
8. Why should people come and see Approaching Empty?
   People should come along to see Approaching Empty because it’s a thoroughly entertaining evening at the theatre. It tells a story that is instantly relatable with a great cast.

Full casting has today been announced for the landmark revival of the award-winning British musical The Hired Man, co-produced by the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and Hull Truck Theatre in association with Oldham Coliseum Theatre. This epic heroic tale of love, betrayal and loyalty opens in Hornchurch (27 April – 18 May), transfers to Hull (23 May – 15 June) and concludes in Oldham (20 June – 6 July).

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is excited to be welcoming back several actors who are no strangers to its stage. They are Lloyd Gorman (Once, Worst Wedding Ever); TJ Holmes (Love, Lies and Lust); Lucy Keirl (The Crucible); Sufia Manya (Love, Lies and Lust); Samuel Martin (Once); Tom Self (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) and James William-Pattison (Jack and the Beanstalk, Once).​

They will be joined by Jon Bonner (The Commitments, UK tour); Oliver Hembrough (Insignificance, Arcola Theatre); Lara Lewis (Daisy Pulls It Off, Charing Cross Theatre) and Lauryn Redding (Oliver Twist, Hull Truck).

Set in Cumbria,1898, whippet racing, hiring fairs, hunting and drunken antics collide, in this passionate story of John and Emily, a young married couple, and their moving struggle to carve a living from the land.

The production is based on the stirring novel by Melvyn Bragg (The South Bank Show, ITV, In Our Times, Radio 4) with a superb score of rousing foot stomping rhythms and soaring choruses by Howard Goodall, the award-winning composer of West End hits Bend It Like Beckham and Love Story.

The Hired Man is directed by the Queen’s Theatre’s Artistic Director Douglas Rintoul (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Made in Dagenham, The Crucible) with design by Jean Chan, musical director Ben Goddard, movement by Jane Gibson, lighting design by Prema Mehta and sound design by Chris Murray.

Howard Goodall says, ‘I am absolutely thrilled about this revival: three brilliant regional theatres, a wonderful creative team and a chance for a new generation of theatre-goers to see this piece that Melvyn Bragg and I first put in front of an audience 35 years ago.’

A Sign Language Interpreted performance of The Hired Man will take place on Wednesday 15 May at 7.30pm with an Audio Described performance on Saturday 18 May at 2.30pm.

The Hired Man runs at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 27 April – 18 May. Tickets are £13.50 – £30 (plus 65p QNew Transformation fee), with £8 tickets available for Under 26s (Tue – Thu & previews). For more information call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or click here.

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is elated that its regional premiere of In Basildon by David Eldridge has received wonderful praise from critics since it opened, and The Metro even listed the production as a top Theatre production pick to see this week!

Fiona Mountford from the Evening Standard awarded the production with four stars and said the show was ‘Punchy and immensely enjoyable’ and claimed In Basildon was ‘an inspired piece of programming’ for the Theatre.

BritishTheatre.com was left laughing as they gave this ‘hilarious’ production four stars and urged audiences to ‘Go and see In Basildon…you’ll have a great time!’

The Stage praised the production as a ‘Strongly performed revival of David Eldridge’s Essex family drama’.

Here’s what other critics have been saying:

★★★★ ‘A spirited and fascinating production’ London Theatre 1

★★★★ ‘A highly entertaining comedy drama’ ActDrop

★★★★ ‘Adorned with plenty of japes and jokes’ Hornchurch Life

‘A hard hitting and fair depiction of the working class of Essex’ Everything Theatre

10/10 ‘Rich with Basildon references and innuendo’ GatewayFM

In Basildon runs at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch until Saturday 30 March. For more information about the show call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or click here.

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is delighted that its regional premiere of Romford-born playwright David Eldridge’s critically acclaimed drama In Basildon, has received a nomination in the Off West End Theatre Awards.

Assessors from The Offies (Off West End Theatre Awards) have nominated Patrick Driver for Best Male Performance in a Play.

The OffWestEnd.com website, which champions London’s independent theatres, launched the annual awards – also known as The Offies – in 2010 to celebrate excellence in productions outside the West End. The Queen’s Theatre is one of over 80 participating venues across the capital.

This explosively knotty drama premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in 2012 and is directed by the Queen’s Theatre’s Artistic Director Douglas Rintoul. This sharply funny play charts an East End family’s history from the homelands of Hackney, via Romford, to Basildon and beyond.

★★★★ ‘Punchy and immensely enjoyable’ Evening Standard

★★★★ ‘Hilarious’  BritishTheatre.com

★★★★ ‘A spirited and fascinating production’ London Theatre 1

‘Strongly performed revival of David Eldridge’s Essex family drama’ The Stage

In Basildon runs at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch until Saturday 30 March. For more information about the show call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or click here.

Celebrations are in full flow as the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch experienced a momentous weekend of achievements, including the launch of its glamorous new Q Bar at the opening of its regional premiere of David Eldridge’s In Basildon on Saturday (16 March) and staff limbered up to run in the Brentwood Half marathon on Sunday (17 March).

The stylish new Q Bar opened on the ground floor, making it more accessible for visitors to use. Once the ribbon was cut pronouncing the bar open, drinks and conversations flowed whilst guests enjoyed a range of new bar snacks, including crisps, popcorn, mixed sweets, mixed olives and cheese and biscuits.  

Q Bar is part of the Theatre’s QNew Transformation Programme. 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.

Douglas Rintoul (Artistic Director), Tom Lowe (Relationships Officer), Ellie Hutley (Front of House Assistant and former Youth Theatre member) completed the Brentwood Half Marathon on Sunday, with Elaine Darran (Head of Finance) running in the 5k race, to raise funds for the Theatre’s brilliant Learning & Participation department. Their legs may ache, but the team has successfully raised over £1,800, which will go towards creating opportunities for local people of all ages and backgrounds. Their target is £2,500, so if anyone would like to donate please visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/QueensTheatreRunners2019  or call the Queen’s Theatre’s Box Office on 01708 443333.

Donations received will contribute towards continuing this work that promotes creativity, helps build confidence and enables participants to develop new skills and make like-minded new friends.

Outer Limits: Call Out

At the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, it is a priority for us to encourage the development of emerging artists based in East London and Essex.  As such, we are opening up the opportunity for local artists and companies to propose small-scale productions to be performed on our Foyer stage this Autumn.

We have a number of slots from late August through to January 2019 and preference will be given to shows that have already been created, already touring and/or booked for any festivals.

Technical information: The Foyer stage sound desk can handle 12 sound inputs including mics, iPod and laptops.  As well as the sound desk, a production on the foyer stage will have access to 5 microphones, a cd player and two PA speakers and an FX unit for microphone reverbs. Lighting is 4 stage lights (Par Cans) in a warm white colour. These are at a constant level throughout.

To apply, please complete the application form and email to our Programming and Producer Co-ordinator, Tom Hurley, at artistcallout@queens-theatre.co.uk

Closing date for application is 10am Monday 8 April.

‘Forget friendship… this is business.’

Ishy Din’s new razor-sharp drama Approaching Empty comes to the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 2 – 6 April as part of a national UK tour. The production is produced by Kiln Theatre, Tamasha and Live Theatre, with direction from Pooja Ghai.

In a scruffy minicab office, Mansha decides it’s time to create his own destiny and offers to buy a business from his lifelong friend Raf. As the realities of the state of the business slowly unravel, these two best friends must confront the difficulties of going into business with those closest to them.

Set in North East England, this compelling drama by award-winning playwright Ishy Din, lays bare the everyday struggles of a post-industrial age where manual labour is no longer plentiful.

★★★★ ‘Strongly performed’ The Stage

★★★★ ‘An entertaining, well‑crafted drama’ Britishtheatre.com

★★★★ ‘Fascinating’ London Theatre 1

The cast includes Kammy Darweish (All My Sons, Nottingham Playhouse), Karan Gill (The Lovely Bones, UK Tour), Nicholas Khan (The Kite Runner, Wyndham’s Theatre/UK tour), Rina Fatania (Love N Stuff, Theatre Royal, Stratford East), Nicholas Prasad (Much Ado About Nothing, Rose Theatre Kingston) and Maanuv Thiara (Hamlet, Almeida Theatre).

Ishy Din’s theatre work includes Snookered (Tamasha, Oldham Coliseum and Bush Theatre) and Beats North (Edinburgh Fringe). He was the 2012 Pearson Writer in Residence at the Manchester Royal Exchange and in 2013 Snookered won Best New Play at the Manchester Theatre Awards. For television, his work includes Ackley Bridge, Taxi Tales and Doughnuts; for film, Fraud, Perfume and Our Lad; and for radio John Barnes Saved My Life.

A Sign Language Interpreted performance will take place on Wednesday 3 April at 7.30pm.

Approaching Empty runs at the Queen’s Theatre from 2 – 6 April. Tickets are £16 – £18 (plus 65p QNew Transformation fee) and can be purchased by calling the Box Office on 01708 443333, in person at the theatre or online here.

[ENDS]

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is set to launch its innovative Essex on Stage programme on Saturday 23 March with the regional premiere of David Eldridge’s In Basildon and play readings by three exciting Essex playwrights Sadie Hasler, Kelly Jones and Dan Murphy.

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. It includes commissioning new plays, establishing a network of venues, touring drama about Essex across Essex for new audiences, organising local events to develop talent and making life changing projects with communities.

The day begins with a rehearsed reading of Tammy by Kelly Jones at 11.30am on the Queen’s Theatre stage, followed by a Q&A. Set in Dagenham, Tammy is a play about female sexuality, family secrets and the fractured relationship between mother and daughter. The play won the Wales Drama Award (BBC Writersroom and National Theatre of Wales) in 2014.

Audiences will then be transported to London’s East End with Dan Murphy’s Legacy at 2.45pm, which will be performed in the Queen’s Theatre’s newly built Rehearsal Space, followed by a Q&A. Legacy follows a group of builders working on the 20th floor of a luxury apartment block in Stratford, overlooking the Olympic Stadium on ‘Super Saturday’ 2012. As the world is glued to Britain’s greatest sporting day, the builders watch on as the place they call home becomes unrecognisable.

The final play reading is Stiletto Beach by Sadie Hasler at 5.30pm on the Queen’s Theatre stage, followed by a Q&A. When a beach is left burning, fingers are pointed at a gang of Essex girls. In this piece, Hasler questions what is an Essex girl anyway?

The day also includes two performances of David Eldridge’s critically acclaimed family drama In Basildon, at 2.30pm and 8pm. This is the first revival since the production premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in 2012.

Tickets are £5 per play reading, £10 for all three play readings as purchased as a package or £25 for all three play readings and a performance of In Basildon (on Saturday 23 March only). Under 26s can see all three Essex on Stage readings and the evening performance of David Eldridge’s In Basildon for just £18.

Essex on Stage has been made possible by the generous support of The Clothworkers’ Foundation. Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is the recipient of the 2018 Clothworkers’ Theatre Award, a competitive annual prize given to a regional producing theatre, that has only ever been awarded five times.

For more information about Essex on Stage click here.