Author: Grace Coppin

A specially staged production of the National Theatre’s award-winning play, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time will be seen by eight secondary schools in Outer East London in partnership with the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch as part of a 12-week tour in Autumn 2018.

The tour forms part of the National Theatre’s drive to introduce new audiences to theatre, in a three-year partnership working with local theatres and schools. The tour will visit the following local schools in September and October 2018:

• Eastbrook School
• Hall Mead School
• Harris Academy Rainham
• Hornchurch High School
• Marshalls Park Academy
• Royal Liberty School
• Sanders School
• The Brittons Academy

The schools tour is a 90-minute version of the play performed in the round and will be followed by a Q&A session for students with the company. The tour is accompanied by a learning programme which includes professional development for teachers led by the NT and Curious Incident movement directors Frantic Assembly, as well as curriculum-based resources and workshops.

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is collaborating with the National Theatre to develop local audiences and engagement in theatre and reach new audiences in Outer East London. Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch has been working closely with the NT to identify local schools to take part in the programme, host training sessions for teachers and provide logistical support. The collaboration is part of a three-year project, Theatre Nation Partnerships, focusing on six areas around the country.

The schools tour will visit five schools per week from September 2018 and will also visit Doncaster, London, Rochdale, Sunderland, Salford, Wakefield, Wigan and Wolverhampton.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time brings Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel to life on stage, adapted by two-time Olivier Award-winning playwright Simon Stephens and directed by Olivier and Tony Award®‑winning director Marianne Elliott. The novel has won more than 17 literary awards and is widely studied in schools. Simon Stephens’ adaptation is a set text for GCSE English Literature.

The play tells the story of Christopher John Francis Boone, who is fifteen years old. He stands besides Mrs Shears’ dead dog, Wellington, who has been speared with a garden fork, it is seven minutes after midnight and Christopher is under suspicion. He records each fact in a book he is writing to solve the mystery of who killed Wellington. He has an extraordinary brain, and is exceptional at maths while ill-equipped to interpret everyday life.  He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched and distrusts strangers. But his detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a frightening journey that upturns his world.

Speaking about the schools tour Simon Stephens said: ‘It means the world to me that Curious Incident will be touring schools around the country. I worked as a schoolteacher teaching kids in Dagenham in Essex 20 years ago. I loved it. I still think of myself as a teacher. I have seen firsthand how inspiring drama is to young people in schools. I believe the arts to be fundamental to our society. We can’t afford to lose them from our education system. I am delighted that our play will play its part in introducing young people to the theatre. I always hoped that Curious Incident was a play that could be performed anywhere, by anyone. The play is designed to provoke and inspire imagination and interpretation in its staging and inspiration in its audience. The tour will, I hope, provide the same kind of imagination and inspiration throughout the country.’

Alice King-Farlow, Director of Learning at the National Theatre said, ‘At the National Theatre we believe that all young people should have the opportunity to experience and participate in drama no matter where they are in the UK. We’re delighted to be touring this award-winning play to schools, and via our Theatre Nation Partnership with Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, we hope that bringing Simon Stephen’s brilliant Curious Incident to young audiences in Outer East London will help to spark imaginations and encourage participation in theatre.’

Julie Bishop, Head of Vocation at Eastbrook Secondary School, Dagenham said, ‘This is a really exciting opportunity for the students and being able to work with the National Theatre as they tour with the show Curious Incident is amazing and I know that our students will gain so much from this.’

The cast includes Shiv Jalota, Kathryn McGarr, Nick Pearse, Chereen Buckley, Caroline Parker, Matt Wilman, Suni La and Kieran Garland.

The production is designed by Olivier and Tony Award-winner Bunny Christie and Tony Award-winning lighting designer Paule Constable. Movement is by Scott Graham and Olivier Award-winning Steven Hoggett for Frantic Assembly, music by Adrian Sutton (who also composed music for War Horse) and sound by Ian Dickinson for Autograph. The Associate Director is Anna Marsland.

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

Schools Touring is supported by: The Mohn Westlake Foundation, The Garfield Weston Foundation, The Ingram Trust, Archie Sherman Charitable Trust, Behrens Foundation, Cleopatra Trust, Jill and David Leuw, Mulberry Trust and The Royal Victoria Hall Foundation.

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch celebrated its 65^th birthday in style on Friday 21 September with a 70s themed fundraising party to remember, boasting fine food, brilliant live music and fun fashion.

Guests were warmly greeted and served a selection of delicious canapes and retro cocktails in the Theatre’s set building workshop, before enjoying an exclusive three course meal on stage with the actors of Abigail’s Party and Abi – a dining experience first in the Queen’s Theatre’s history!

The party then carried on into the evening with more guests joining for Disco Inferno to dance the night away. A brilliantly funky live band performed a range of 70s classics and featured performers Di Croft, David Grace, Georgina Field (also on saxophone), Gemma Salter and Al Twist. They were joined by drummer Edmund Knight, keyboardist Alex S.Tower and James Payne on guitar and vocals. DJ Tom of Swindon got the guests into the groove until late with feel-good dance floor anthems.

Executive Director Mathew Russell said, ‘The many months of planning‎ and promoting really paid off with the delivery of a slick, immersive, visually impressive, fun, musical, tasty, warm evening of 65th Birthday Celebrations. I wish we’d made a documentary; it really was like an evening at the BAFTAs! Thank you to all involved and to our guests for their very generous support.’

The money raised will go towards helping fund the Theatre’s wide-reaching, unique programme of live theatre and community and education projects. This includes working with young people and the community, investing in and nurturing artistic talent, making theatre accessible and developing new audiences.

Christmas has come early as the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch has revealed details about its new immersive festive show, Sparky the Elf and the Secret Toyshop. This December, families can enjoy an elftastic adventure with one of Santa’s pointy eared and rosy-cheeked helpers at a top secret location at Romford’s The Mercury Mall Shopping Centre. 

The special venue will be transformed into Santa’s enchanted workshop, and running from 15 – 30 December. Whilst Santa is busy making his list and checking it twice, his most trusted head elf Sparky Tinselbottom is frantically working away repairing abandoned toys. Families with children aged 7 – 11 can join in as one of Sparky’s friends and discover fantastic adventures of unloved toys from around the world. But don’t distract Sparky for too long, as Father Christmas needs everything to be ready for loading his sleigh and the clock is ticking…

Families must arrive 15 minutes before the advertised start time by the Help Desk on Level 2 (Street level) of the The Mercury Mall Shopping Centre, where they will be met and led to Sparky’s secret toyshop, which will be a short walk away.

Written and directed by the Queen’s Theatre’s Artistic Director Douglas Rintoul, this unique experience is from the team behind last year’s sell out festive treat, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas which was performed at the National Trust’s Rainham Hall.

Sparky the Elf and the Secret Toyshop runs from 15 – 30 December. Tickets are £7.50 for all weekday performances and £10 at weekends. Performances are at 11am, 2pm, 4.30pm, 3pm and 6pm (varies each day). To book, call the Queen’s Theatre’s Box Office on 01708 443333 or go online at queens-theatre.co.uk

‘Fancy a little top up?’ The homecoming revival of Mike Leigh’s timeless comedy Abigail’s Party has received plenty of wonderful praise since it opened at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch earlier this month. Critics and audiences have enjoyed their trip down memory lane, complete with gin and tonics and cheesy-pineapple ones all round!

Co-produced with Derby Theatre, Wiltshire Creative and Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, ActDrop applauded the production with five stars and described the show as ‘Excruciatingly funny and truly unmissable’. 

Another four star review came from The Guardian who commended the performances as ‘cringing brilliance’, stating ‘Melanie Gutteridge plays Bev with such pitch perfection that the character feels, finally, freed from Alison Steadman’s formidable legacy.’

Broadwaybaby also awarded the production with four stars and said ‘Leigh coined the phrase ‘theoretical Romford’ to describe the play’s location, so where better to see in than in the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’.

Here’s what other critics have been saying:

★★★★ ‘The greatest appeal of Abigail’s Party is its comedy, and this is plentiful under Rintoul’s direction’  BritishTheatre.com

★★★★ ‘Classic comedy of suburban manners’ Remote Goat

★★★★ ‘A lively and dynamic production’ LondonTheatre1

★★★★ ‘Slick and sharp‘ TimeFM

‘Unique’ A Younger Theatre

‘Lee Newby’s lavish set captures the questionable aesthetics of the era down to the last detail’ The Stage

‘A lively revival’ thespyinthestalls

‘Brutally funny’ There Ought to be Clowns

‘I thoroughly enjoyed watching this production’ Hornchurch Life

‘A very enjoyable evening’ TheatreLife

‘Marvellous revival’ Brentwood Gazette

‘Wonderful’ GatewayFM

‘A show worth seeing’ Polka-dot pages

‘Great writing, direction and a top cast’ Bedrock FM

Abigail’s Party runs at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch until Saturday 22 September. The production will then tour to Derby Theatre (26 September – 20 October), Salisbury Playhouse (30 October – 17 November) and Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg (27 – 29 November).

For more information about the show call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or click here 

The world premiere of Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti’s uplifting comedy drama Dishoom! comes to the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch later this month (25 – 29 September) as part of a national UK tour. The production stars 17-year-old Bilal Khan, from Ilford, who makes his professional stage debut in the lead role of Simon.

Featuring music and playful re-enactments from the smash hit Bollywood film Sholay, this new play about friendship and courage set in 1970s Britain is co-produced by Rifco Theatre Company and Watford Palace Theatre with Oldham Coliseum Theatre (Miss Meena & the Masala Queens, The Deranged Marriage and Britain’s Got Bhangra).

Bilal Khan himself was born with cerebral palsy and will be taking on the role of a young man with a disability who is struggling to find his place in the world around him. He says, ‘I can’t wait to start my first professional acting journey with this leading British Asian theatre company. The team have been really supportive throughout this opportunity from assisting with my touring needs to professional development workshops. I am honoured to be involved with this brilliant piece of new writing.’

Khan will be joined by Elijah Baker (On the Middle Day, The Old Vic); Seema Bowri (My Country, National Theatre); Georgia Burnell (professional debut), Omar Ibrahi (Ricky Whittington; New Diorama Theatre); Gurkiran Kaur (The Test, Southwark Playhouse) and James Mace (Desperate Measures, Jermyn Street Theatre).

The story follows Simon and his friends; they should be looking forward to leaving school, but the National Front are on the streets, Simon’s Bibi is ashamed of him and his Dad spends his life hiding in the pub. When Simon’s cousin Baljit comes to stay, she introduces him to the Bollywood classic, Sholay. Inspired by the film’s dynamic duo, Jai and Veeru, Simon and Baljit find their inner superheroes and set out to change their world forever.

A  Dementia Friendly performance of Dishoom! will take place on Thursday 27 September at 1.30pm in addition to an Audio Described performance on Saturday 29 September at 2.30pm

Dishoom! runs at the Queen’s Theatre from 25 – 29 September. Tickets are £12 – £22 and can be purchased by calling the Box Office on 01708 443333, in person at the theatre or online here.

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is delighted that its homecoming revival of Abigail’s Party, co-produced with Derby Theatre, Wiltshire Creative and Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, has received four nominations in the prestigious Off West End Theatre Awards.

Assessors from The Offies (Off West End Theatre Awards) have nominated Abigail’s Party for Best Production, Melanie Gutteridge for Best Female Performance, Susie Emmett for Best Female Performance in a Supporting Role and Lee Newby for Best Set Design.

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 and a final shortlist of nominees will come out early next year.

The fresh and faithful look at Mike Leigh’s iconic classic is directed by the Queen’s Theatre’s Artistic Director Douglas Rintoul. Set in seventies Romford, with Demis Roussos top of the hit parade and adults behaving disgracefully, it’s social awkwardness at its best at the drinks party from hell!

Abigail’s Party runs at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch until Saturday 22 September. The production will then tour to Derby Theatre (26 September – 20 October), Salisbury Playhouse (30 October – 17 November) and Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg (27 – 29 November). For more information about the show call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or click here.

To celebrate the Theatre’s 65^th birthday, the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch has unveiled its fundraising plans to innovate and renovate the iconic building for artists, participants and audiences alike as part of its QNew project. This refreshing facelift will help the venue make better theatre, 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.

The Theatre can only make this possible with the support from its valued customers, so the venue will be introducing a 65p QNew Transformation fee per ticket, which will come into effect on its 65^th birthday, Friday 21 September. Once this fee comes into use, the current £1 fee transaction charge for tickets will be abolished. The ability to print your tickets at home will also be introduced for the convenience of those who want to.

The funds raised will contribute towards supporting a number of exciting projects throughout 2019. These include:

• Equipping a new dedicated rehearsal facility on site for the first time in the Theatre’s history
• Dedicating a bespoke new space for the Theatre’s expanding range of learning and participatory work with the local community
• Creating a special room for local and regional artists to try out new ideas
• Building a new look ground floor Bar to complement the busy Café
• Making front of house and backstage much more accessible to D/deaf and disabled people
• Replacing outdated equipment so that it’s cheaper and safer to run
• Installing better air conditioning in the foyer so everyone can be comfortable all year round
• Ensuring the roof and exterior of the Theatre are weather proofed for the future

Further information about QNew and the QNew Transformation fee is available here.

Audiences can also speak to the theatre’s Box Office staff on 01708 443333 if they have any questions or can pick up a leaflet from the theatre in person.

Don’t miss your chance to see three fantastic productions this autumn at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch for just £45! With the theatre’s cost-effective Jump the Q season ticket, you can enjoy three wonderful in-house shows – Abigail’s Party, Once and Haunting Julia – that’s just £15 per show and a saving of up to £37 per person! But hurry, this offer ends on Saturday 22 September.

You’ll be treated to the homecoming revival of Mike Leigh’s timeless comedy Abigail’s Party, which plays until 22 September, and is co-produced by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Derby Theatre, Wiltshire Creative and Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg.

From 3 – 20 October, you’ll not want to miss the UK regional premiere of the multi-award-winning musical Once. Based on the Academy Award-winning film, this smash-hit romance will feature an ensemble of actor-musicians is co-produced with New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich (Made in Dagenham, Rope).

Finally, the Queen’s Theatre is producing the chilling ghost story Haunting Julia from 1 – 17 November. This hauntingly tense study of grief and the supernatural is punctuated with trademark wit from Alan Ayckbourn, one of the world’s most popular and prolific playwrights.

Audiences can choose between a Saver ticket for £45 (Tuesday – Thursday, previews or Saturday matinee) or upgrade to a Premium ticket for £52 which offers savings of up to £38 on top-priced tickets.

Click here to book your Jump the Q season ticket or call our Box Office on 01708 443333

Single tickets for all three shows can also be purchased online, by phone or in person.