Author: Grace Coppin

Staff of the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch are currently training for the Brentwood Half Marathon to raise money for its wide-reaching Learning and Participation projects.

Running the Brentwood Half-Marathon on Sunday 17 March are Douglas Rintoul (Artistic Director), Tom Lowe (Relationships Officer) and Ellie Hutley (Front of House Assistant and a former Youth Theatre Member). Participating in the 5k fun run on the same day will be Elaine Darran (Head of Finance). The group have set a target of £2,000.

The Queen’s Theatre offers a variety of programmes that enables everyone the chance to discover and nurture their performing arts talents across Havering, East London and Essex with people of all ages and backgrounds.

This includes producing high quality productions involving the local community, training young people in theatre skills both on stage and behind the scenes and assisting schools in delivering the curriculum in an innovative way.

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.

To donate please visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/QueensTheatreRunners2019  or call the Queen’s Theatre’s Box Office on 01708 443333.

 

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch experienced a significant moment in the Theatre’s 65 year history this week, as Sir Ian McKellen graced its stage for two consecutive evenings to raise funds for the Theatre’s QNew Transformation programme. The Theatre is delighted to have raised an incredible £46,000 and sends a special thank you to everyone who shared this landmark moment with them for their generous donations.  

Regarded as one of Britain’s greatest screen and stage actors, and quite rightly a national treasure, Ian McKellen is best known for his history of Shakespeare stage roles as well as starring in films such as X-Men and Lord of the Rings. He performed his warm and humorous new solo show on Sunday 24 and Monday 25 February, as part of his Ian McKellen On Stage tour to celebrate his 80^th birthday.

Ian McKellen presented a highly entertaining evening talking about his experiences on film sets, acting a selection of famous Shakespeare speeches and even performing a sketch as a panto Dame. He then generously helped with a bucket collection post-show and spent time meeting with fans and taking selfies.

Executive Director Mathew Russell at the Queen’s Theatre said, ‘It was one of the highlights of the theatre’s illustrious history as Ian McKellen took to our stage to raise funds for QNew, and celebrate our last 65 years. We’re so proud that Ian chose us as a venue to perform his once in a lifetime event, but even prouder that he came back to do the whole thing over again!’

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.

For more information about QNew click here.

ACS Dance Centre, also known as Anthony Clifford Studios is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year; husband and wife team and ex-professional dancers Diana and Mark started the school with just three students. They are now a registered charity as well as having their own impressive multi-studio dance premises in Albert Road, Romford.

This February they are joining forces with the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch in their new production about the competitive world of Ballroom dancing Kiss Me Quickstep. Seven ACS students will form part of the show’s community chorus. They are Jack Burchell, Jessica Moores, Ella Nelson, Sue Smith, Elzbieta Szatkowska, Tomasz Szatkowski and Mieko Wertheim.

Joint Principal Diana Clifford said ‘We are so proud of our school, and all its pupils both children and our many adult members who may start to dance much later in life.  I truly believe dance is for everyone and its benefits for health and happiness are immense, even for those who do not want to take it up professionally. This new collaboration with the Queen’s Theatre is very exciting as it is promoting just this message!’

The school’s accomplishments speak for themselves, with many students going on to professional careers in all forms of dance, theatre and acting, even performing lead roles in the West-End and across the world.

Unusually for a dance school however, the Ballroom and Latin genre is equally well regarded as their theatre side and ACS excels in Ballroom, winning at National Blackpool grand finals and competing worldwide. The school has also been awarded the annual IDS Vocational Dance School of the Year four times, chosen from many thousands of applications from across the country and overseas by judges from the Royal Ballet school and the Editor of the Dancing Times, presented by Angela Rippon and Wayne Sleep. Diana is delighted to have recently been accepted as a Chance to Dance- Associate Artist of the Royal Opera House and teaches special classes on their behalf as part of the Royal Opera House’s Outreach program, with ACS and the Opera House offering selected children scholarship places at the school.

Kiss Me Quickstep plays at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 22 February to 9 March. Co-produced with New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich, this sequin-studded ballroom drama by Amanda Whittington reveals the backstage stories behind the fabulous frocks, fixed smiles and fake tan, looking at the lives of those for whom dancing is everything. Tickets are £12.50 – £29 (plus an additional 65p QNew Transformation fee), with £8 tickets available for Under 26s (Tue – Thu & previews). Audiences can see this show and two more Queen’s Theatre productions (In Basildon and The Hired Man) from just £15 each with a Jump the Q season ticket. Offer ends 9 March.

For information about classes for adults and children in Ballroom, Latin, Ballet, Tap, Modern and Freestyle see acsdance.uk or call 01708 783576.

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is one of five London Theatres to be awarded £5,000 from the Theatre Trusts’ London Small Theatres Grants Scheme for meaningful projects that address viability and accessibility and improve the theatre-going experience.

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch will use this grant to complete a package of accessibility works front and back of house to better support audiences, participants and performers, as part of its QNew Transformation programme.

Tom Stickland, Theatres Adviser at the Theatres Trust said: ‘London is rich in all sorts of theatre, not just the West End in all its opulence, but tiny spaces that have made their homes in converted spaces and in communities throughout the capital. We launched this scheme following a GLA report into the challenges faced by small theatres and as you can see from our recent awards it is the smallest of those spaces that stand to benefit the most from some investment in their buildings; ensuring high quality experiences for theatre-goers, staff and performers.’

Mathew Russell, Executive Director at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch says, ‘We’d like to say a huge thank you to the Theatres Trust. This grant will make an important contribution towards improving the accessibility of our Theatre for audiences and artists to enjoy for years to come.’

The Omnibus in Clapham, Islington charity The Big House, The Tower Theatre in Hackney and Soho Theatre were the other organisations to also receive a £5,000 grant.

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.

For more information about QNew click here.

Developments are underway at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch as part of the Theatre’s QNew Transformation programme. The Theatre has been fundraising towards innovating the iconic building since September and is delighted the first phase of building improvements is underway.

The Theatre’s new Rehearsal Space has now been installed with 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. Daniel Haynes, a freelance Company Stage Manager who works regularly for the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch says, ‘The improvement works made to the new rehearsal space has allowed the room to feel bigger and more open, with the new windows allowing in natural light and fresh air. The addition of mirrors, curtains and pin boards allow the room to be more functional for directors, creatives and the acting company.’

These improvements wouldn’t have been possible without a generous donation from Gerry Byrne, Franchisee Owner of McDonalds Romford as well as contributions from the Theatre’s introduction of a 65p QNew Transformation fee. This came into effect on the Theatre’s 65th birthday, Friday 21 September. Since then, customers have already helped the Theatre raise a public contribution towards QNew of £31,522.90.

Douglas Rintoul, Artistic Director at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch said, ‘We’d like to say a huge thank you to McDonalds Romford and to all our loyal customers for their generous support for this important QNew project. By investing into the building, this support will ensure we keep producing the very best work we can, whilst encouraging members of our community to take part or see some of our upcoming productions.’

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.

For more information about QNew click here.

Lucy Benjamin, who is best known for playing Lisa Fowler in EastEnders and Maggie in Mackenzie Crook’s BBC Four series Detectorists, has been cast in the regional premiere of David Eldridge’s In Basildon.  This family drama will run at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 14 – 30 March.

In Basildon sees the soap star return to her local Theatre after performing in Deadly Murder at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch in 2015. She is currently performing in The Ruffian on the Stair at the Hope Theatre, Islington until 16 February.

She will be joined by Peter Bray (Much Ado About Nothing, Rose Theatre Kingston); Patrick Driver (Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, West End); Emily Houghton (Olivier nominated production The Lorax, Old Vic Theatre); Beverley Klein (Les Misérables, original cast, Royal Shakespeare Company) Peter Temple (Boy; Almeida Theatre) and Connie Walker (Trestle, Southwark Playhouse). Completing the cast are David Hemsted (White Gold, BBC Two) and Charlotte Law (Beauty and the Beast, Theatre Royal Stratford East) who were cast through the Queen’s Theatre’s open audition process to find local actors.

Written by the award-winning Romford playwright David Eldridge (Market Boy, National Theatre; Beginning, West End) this explosively knotty drama is being brought back to its roots after a 2012 premiere at the Royal Court Theatre.

The production will be directed by the Theatre’s Artistic Director Douglas Rintoul (Abigail’s Party, Rope, The Crucible), with design by Natasha Jenkins and lighting design by Alexandra Stafford. 

In Basildon launches the Queen’s Theatre’s Essex on Stage programme, a new two year programme that champions the positive notions of Essex, celebrating theatre made by working class people and raising aspirations for emerging artists from Essex and Outer East London.

In Basildon runs at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 14 – 30 March. Tickets are £12.50 – £29 (plus an additional 65p QNew Transformation fee), with £8 tickets available for Under 26s (Tue – Thu & previews).

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and Derby Theatre have today announced their co-production of Richard Bean’s smash-hit comedy, One Man, Two Guvnors.

Directed by Sarah Brigham, Derby Theatre’s Artistic Director and Chief Executive, this co-production of Bean’s hilarious farce will open at Derby Theatre from 7 – 28 September before a run at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 2 – 19 October. One Man, Two Guvnors is the latest co-production between Derby Theatre and the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch following their highly acclaimed productions of Abigail’s Party and Abi in autumn 2018.

One Man, Two Guvnors is a side-splitting mix of physical comedy, farce and live music and has remained a huge hit with audiences and the press alike since the National Theatre’s production opened to rave reviews in 2011. The play continued to be a runaway success when it later toured the UK, played in the West End and on Broadway and later played Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand, plus further UK tours.

After being fired from his skiffle band, Francis Henshall is skint and hungry. He manages to secure a new job as a minder for small time gangster Roscoe Crabbe. What Francis doesn’t know, is his new guvnor is really Roscoe’s sister Rachel in disguise as her own dead brother, who has been killed by her boyfriend Stanley Stubbers.

To further complicate things, Francis nabs a second job working for that very Stanley Stubbers who is hiding from the police. All Francis has to do to ensure his two guvnors don’t meet. What could go wrong?

Sarah Brigham says: ‘I’m absolutely thrilled to be directing our version of Richard Bean’s phenomenally popular One Man, Two Guvnors this autumn and to continue our partnership with the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch. An absolute firm favourite of a production, that has proved immensely popular for years with audiences across the UK and overseas, I am confident that our audiences (and those in Hornchurch) will have a truly great night in our theatres this autumn seeing this superb slapstick comedy.’

Douglas Rintoul, Artistic Director at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch says, ‘After our hugely successful co-productions of Abigail’s Party and Abi, we’re delighted to be partnering again with our friends at Derby Theatre. Derby Theatre is an innovative leader in British theatre, and so we’re thrilled the Theatre’s Artistic Director Sarah Brigham will be directing this major revival of this iconic British comedy. Hornchurch audiences are in for a truly riotously fun night out.’

Tickets will be available to purchase for One Man, Two Guvnors at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from Thursday 11 April. For more information about the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch visit queens-theatre.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01708 443333.

Families won’t want to miss out on a whole host of fantastic children’s entertainment and workshops coming up at the Queen’s Theatre this spring half term!

For those that love getting creative the Theatre is hosting three tutor-led Create & Play Mornings throughout the week – Alien Adventures on Monday 18 February, Jungle Groove on Tuesday 19 February and Egg-cellent Adventures on Saturday 23 February. Little ones aged 4 – 6 will be able to use their imagination and enjoy two hours of creative fun involving drama games, storytelling and craft activities. Workshops start at 10am and cost £10 (plus QNew Transformation fee) per child.

Youngsters who simply can’t sit still can keep active by taking part in a Street Dance Masterclass on Wednesday 20 February. They’ll have great fun learning hip hop dance skills from an industry professional. This two-hour masterclass is £8 (plus 65p QNew Transformation fee) and starts at 10am for children aged 6 – 9 years and 1pm for children aged 10 – 14 years.

Children who love musicals have the fantastic opportunity to participate in a two-hour Musical Theatre Masterclass on Thursday 21 February. They will sing and dance their way through one of their favourite musical numbers and learn a full routine from a West End show! This masterclass is £8 (plus 65p QNew Transformation fee) and runs from 10am for children aged 6 – 9 years and from 1pm for 10 – 14 year-olds.

Finally, don’t miss Man of Mischief on Saturday 23 February at 11.30am. Featuring astounding juggling, jaw-dropping magic and feats of incredible danger, this engaging family show is suitable for children aged 6+, and tickets are £5 per person (plus QNew Transformation fee). Fun and laughter guaranteed!

For more information and to book tickets for any of these events call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or go online at queens-theatre.co.uk

Young people listen up! Everyone loves a night out for less than a tenner right? If you’re lucky enough to be 25 years old or younger you can bag yourself a cheeky bargain with £8 tickets to see a range of exciting Queen’s Theatre productions. Thanks to the Theatre’s new ticket scheme to attract younger audiences, under 26s can enjoy a night out at the Theatre without breaking the bank.

The scheme kicks off this spring with the modern day black comedy DNA, which runs from 7 – 14 February. This explosive story is written especially for young audiences by Dennis Kelly, who was a co-writer on BBC Three’s sitcom Pulling, Matilda the Musical with comedian Tim Minchin, and the Channel 4 conspiracy thriller Utopia.

Lovers of Strictly Come Dancing can immerse themselves in the dazzling world of ballroom dancing in Amanda Whittington’s sequin studded drama Kiss Me Quickstep. Playing from 22 February – 9 March, under 26s can grab a ticket for just £8 (Tue – Thu & previews only).

Other productions this spring under 26s can get their teeth into for just £8 are In Basildon (14 – 30 March), the sharply funny play about Essex family life by Romford playwright David Eldridge as well a stirring revival of the British musical The Hired Man (27 April – 18 May), by Melvyn Bragg, with music and lyrics by Howard Goodall (Bend It Like Beckham).

James Watson, Head of Learning & Participation for the Queen’s Theatre says, ‘We are passionate about getting young audiences to experience really great theatre, and by reducing cost as a barrier are making our work more accessible for them. We want young people to be moved, inspired, challenged and engaged. I hope this scheme will encourage more young people to see theatre for the first time or try something new that they might not be familiar with.’ 

More information about the Theatre’s under 26s £8 ticket initiative can be found online at queens-theatre.co.uk/under-26s and how these tickets can be purchased. The Theatre has also selected a range of season highlights that would appeal to young people.