Sleeping Beauty announced as Queen’s Theatre’s 2022 pantomime 

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is delighted to announce this year’s magical, fun-packed pantomime will be Sleeping Beauty. The show will run from 24 November 2022 until 1 January 2023.

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch has been producing top-quality, traditional pantomime for more than 65 years. You can guarantee that the family will all enjoy this festive treat, which mixes slap-stick entertainment with the sparkle of a West End show.

By popular demand, this year’s magical panto will be written by Andrew Pollard and feature original music by Tom Self. Both are back with us following the success of last year’s hit show, Aladdin.

‘A funny, charming, and well produced show that captures the spirit of the season’

Everything Theatre, on last year’s panto Aladdin.

Tickets go on sale Monday 7 February 2022 at 10am.

Sleeping Beauty will play at the Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch from

24 November 2022 – 1 January 2023. Tickets cost from £12.50 – £34 (+65p QNext fee). To book, call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or book online at www.queens-theatre.co.uk

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is today announcing that after six very successful years‎, Douglas Rintoul is leaving the post of Artistic Director at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, in mid May 2022, to take up the new leadership role at New Wolsey Ipswich. Before then, he will direct previously announced major revivals of ‘All My Sons’ and ‘The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 – The Musical’.

‎Douglas Rintoul, Artistic Director, said:

‘I’ve had the best time at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch. It is a special organisation that’s deeply embedded in its communities, and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved. It’s been an honour to work with our brilliant staff, trustees, partners and communities and to support our talented local artists. I’ve loved being able to make work that’s not been seen only in Hornchurch but across the country and abroad and I can’t wait to see what the organisation does next’.

Mathew Russell, Executive Director, said:

‘It’s been a privilege to work closely with Doug over the last five years, and for us both to be part of such an extraordinary period of change: establishing programmes like Essex on Stage, Outer Limits and Havering Changing; reaching 45% new audiences; as founding Theatre partner with the National Theatre on Public Acts; in expanding our co-producing, touring and off-site work; transforming the building itself; and diversifying those we work with and reach. It was a shared highlight to see QTH recognised as London Theatre of the Year, the first Outer London borough theatre to be awarded this status.’

Sara Thompson, Chair, said:

‘On behalf of the board, staff and ‎stakeholders, we owe Doug a huge vote of thanks for his amazing efforts, boundless talent and dedication to the work of the charity, not only in helping to transform the theatre in so many ways, but in directing and overseeing such a string of award-winning productions enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people. Like our artists and audiences, we will be very sad to see him leave, but proud that he’s moving on to lead one of our closest partner theatres, meaning we can continue to collaborate into the future. We wish him the very best of success.’

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch will open its Spring 2022 season with a stunning revival from Director Douglas Rintoul of Arthur Miller’s moving and powerful landmark drama All My Sons 10 February – 5 March, before playing at the New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich 8 – 12 March.

Cast is led by David Hounslow, who is best known for his roles in Coronation Street and Doctors, as Joe and Eve Matheson, who is best known for her roles as Zoe Angell in the BBC sitcom May to December and Becky Sharp in the BBC adaptation of Vanity Fair, as Kate. They will be joined by David Bonnick Jr (Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, Addicted to Love, Channel 5) Oliver Hembrough (Around the World in 80 Days, BBC One), Nathan Ives-Moiba (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Octagon Theatre), Natasha Lewis (The Boy in the Dress, Royal Shakespeare Company), Tilly-Mae Millbrook (A Christmas Carol, The Watermill), Graeme Rooney (The Play That Goes Wrong, Duchess Theatre, UK Tour), and Kibong Tanji (The Sun, The Moon and The Stars, Theatre Royal, Stratford East).

It’s 1947 and successful ‎businessman Joe Keller and his wife Kate are living the American dream in their idyllic suburban neighbourhood. Summer wedding plans are afoot for their son and his fiancée. Shadows of the war are slowly fading. But nothing‎ lasts forever. And a familiar visitor arrives to unbury secrets from the past, which will tear their lives apart…

This compelling masterpiece, based on a true story, established Arthur Miller (Death of a Salesman, The Crucible) as one of the greatest playwrights of the 20th century. A classic that’s been performed in the West End an‎d on Broadway by a galaxy of stars including Annette Bening, Jenna Coleman, Bill Pullman, David Suchet and Julie Walters

All My Sons will be directed by Douglas Rintoul (Macbeth, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch), designed by Amy Jane Cook  (Jelly Fish, The National Theatre), with lighting design by Stephen Pemble (Neville’s Island, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch), sound design by Helen Atkinson (Grief is the Thing with Feathers, The Barbican, St Ann’s Warehouse, US), accent coaching by Joel Trill (A Taste of Honey, Trafalgar Studios), and intimacy and fight direction by Haruka Kuroda (The Last Temptation of Boris Johnson, Park Theatre).

★★★★★
‘Douglas Rintoul’s production of this classic play grips like a vice’ 
Reviews Gate on The Crucible

★★★★★
‘Inspired direction, artful effects and compelling acting ‘ 
The Spy in the Stalls on Macbeth

Director Douglas Rintoul says:

“We are delighted to kick off the year as we mean to go on, bringing world-class drama to the stage at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch

“This will be the first production of Miller’s masterpiece at the Theatre since 1959. It holds a particular significance as we move into 2022. Miller gives us a beautiful family drama full of ordinary people that we recognise and fall in love with. He grabs our hearts and then unashamedly forces us to experience the cost of their individualism, and its impact on their morality, interpersonal relationships and more importantly their wider world.  It hits us in the guts. Against our contemporary context of division, post-truth, climate change and the pandemic, this play speaks to us more than ever, asking us to look at the values and beliefs we hold about our own lives and the world around us”

Eve Matheson says:

“How lovely to be making my first appearance at the Queen’s Theatre. Miller’s description of Kate, in All My Sons, as ‘.., a woman with an overwhelming capacity for love’, is a hook in itself. Then to learn how events have, and do, affect her is a compelling and fascinating prospect to play. I am delighted and excited to be making her my own”

David Hounslow says:

“The Queens Theatre Hornchurch is a theatre rooted in and serving it’s community with a strong and growing reputation for thrilling work.  The play, All My Sons is one of the greatest plays of the twentieth Century by one of the greatest writers. Not a weak character in the piece, Joe, at the heart, a flawed man with a massive capacity for self-delusion and compromised integrity, the American dream personified with all its hope and boundless optimism crippled by pragmatism, compromise and deception. A clay footed idol destined for a fall. Who wouldn’t want to play this character a man for whom his family is his rock and ultimately his ruin? With such a fantastic group of actors to share the journey it is an actor’s dream job. And you get to shout and wave your arms about a bit!”

To book your tickets and for more information about the Theatre visit queens-theatre.co.uk

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch has today announced its Spring 2022 season, which will include a major revival of Arthur Miller’s landmark drama, All My Sons, playing 10 February – 5 March. The production continues the Theatre’s tradition of exceptional, classic drama and will be directed by Douglas Rintoul (Artistic Director), following critically acclaimed UK tours of Macbeth and The Crucible. Design will be by the award-winning Amy Jane Cook (The Season, The Royal & Derngate, Northampton and New Wolsey Theatre and Jellyfish, The National Theatre and Bush Theatre). All My Sons will transfer for a week to long-term partner New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich in March 2022.

Then, from 17 March to 2 April, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch stages the deliciously funny and tender play, The Kitchen Sink, written by Tom Wells. This 10th anniversary new production of Tom’s hilarious and touching, award-winning gem of a play is ‎an affectionate and sweet portrait of working-class family life. The Kitchen Sink will be directed by Caroline Leslie who directed the Theatre’s acclaimed production of Luke Norris’s So Here We Are in 2019, part of the Essex Girls and Boys season. Lighting design for both All My Sons and The Kitchen Sink will be by Stephen Pemble (Misfits and Neville’s Island, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch).

Finally, a major new production of Sue Townsend’s best-selling book The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ -The Musical. Book and lyrics by Jake Brunger, with music and lyrics by Pippa Cleary, directed by Douglas Rintoul, playing from 28 April to 21 May. This outrageously funny tale of teenage angst and unrequited love features one of the most endearing comedy characters of all time. This new actor musician version will build on the success of recent hit musicals produced at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch: Made in Dagenham, Priscilla – Queen of the Desert, Once, The Hired Man and Love Letters.

The Theatre teams up with Leeds Playhouse and Curve Leicester again to showcase the world premiere of Maggie May, directed by Jemima Levick from 23 – 28 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. All performances of Maggie May are Dementia Friendly. The show closed prematurely in March 2020 as a result of the pandemic before its official opening night. It will be opening at Leeds Playhouse and touring to Curve Leicester after the Hornchurch run.

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is thrilled to have commissioned Thurrock based playwright, Vickie Donoghue, adaptor of The Witchfinder’s Sister, to write a major new drama inspired by the Canvey Island floods of 1953 for later in 2022/2023. The Theatre are also delighted to be supporting the next stage of developing two Black Essex commissions with Mia Jerome and her new piece of work Rice & Peas, and Anne Odeke and her The Essex Princess. Both Mia and Anne’s projects have been made possible thanks to the support of Creative Estuary Co-commissions.

Douglas Rintoul, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch states: ‘Announcing a new season is always special, but this time it’s exceptional as it’s the first time we’ve been able to plan this far ahead since the beginning of 2020, back when we won the London Theatre of the Year Stage Award. We’ve got some cracking stories we know you’re going to love, so join us as we do what we do best – give you a great time at the theatre.’

Spring Season 2022 tickets go on sale to the Theatre’s Queen’s Angels on Saturday 30 October at 10am. Tickets will be available via general on sale from Monday 1 November at 10am.

Panto is back in Hornchurch for 2021! Oh yes it is! Christmas is coming and Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch are overjoyed to announce the cast and creative team for the much-loved traditional pantomime Aladdin, playing from 25 November 2021 – 2 January 2022.

Hop aboard a magical carpet ride to a far-away land. Join the adventure as Aladdin falls in love with the Princess, discovers an enchanted lamp and with his hilarious mum Betty Bagwash and a mysterious Genie sets out to make a fortune. But hiding in the shadows is the evil Bjӧrn Nastee, who will stop at nothing to get his hands on that lamp…boo! hiss!

The cast consists of Miiya Alexandra Amelie the Musical, The Criterion Theatre; Dominic Gee-Burch One Man Two Guvnors, Derby Theatre, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch; Stacey Ghent Sweet Charity, The Watermill Theatre; Lucy Keirl The Hired Man, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Hull Truck, Oldham Coliseum; Elliot Mackenzie Million Dollar Quartet, UK Tour; Emma Jane Morton Amelie the Musical, The Other Palace & UK Tour; Aaron Teoh The King & I, UK & International Tour; and Alex Wadham Sunny Afternoon, UK Tour.

Brought to you from the team behind Robin Hood. With original tunes played live for all ages and plenty of panto antics, this is a laugh-out-loud Christmas treat not to be missed.

Aladdin is written by Andrew Pollard, directed by Douglas Rintoul, with original music and lyrics by Tom Self, set and costume design by Richard Foxton, lighting design by Stephen Pemble and choreography by Ryan Munroe.

Douglas Rintoul, the Theatre’s Artistic Director and Director of Aladdin states ‘We’re really excited to be bringing panto back! Our lovingly made production of Aladdin is going to be one to remember! It’s full of music, dancing, spectacle, great sets and costumes, and of course lots of jokes. It features a tip-top cast that can’t wait to bring this traditional story to life and make this a very special return to Christmas at the Queen’s Theatre’ 

The theatre is offering several access performances; a Dementia Friendly performance on Thursday 16 December at 1.30pm, an Audio described performance on Thursday 30 December at 2pm, a British Sign Language interpreted performance on Thursday 30 December at 6.30pm, and a Relaxed (SEN/Autism Friendly) performance on Saturday 1 January at 6.30pm.

Aladdin will be performed at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch 25 November 2021 – 2 January 2022. Tickets are £12.50 – £34 (plus 65p QRenew Fee per ticket) with discounts for groups and schools. To book, call the Box Office on 01708 443333, visit the theatre in person, or go online.

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch would like to thank our Principal Sponsor McDonalds Romford along with our Media Partner Time FM.

Long before the Salem witch trials in America, there were the Manningtree witch trials in Essex!

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch has today announced the exciting world premiere of Beth Underdown’s chilling and creepy tale of Essex witch hunts, The Witchfinder’s Sister. Based on the true story of the infamous witchfinder Matthew Hopkins, with one of the most memorable heroines in recent historical fiction. Playing in Hornchurch 7 – 30 October 2021.

This spellbinding and haunting historical thriller was Beth Underdown’s debut novel, a Richard and Judy Book Club pick and winner of the Historical Writers’ Association Debut Crown Award 2017. The Theatre has commissioned Vickie Donoghue, an acclaimed playwright from Thurrock, to adapt the novel for the stage. Vickie was recently one of three Essex creatives commissioned by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch to develop a Creative Estuary co-commission, Tales from the Thames. This new play successfully brought live theatre to parts of South Essex where it is rarely, if ever, staged. Vickie has worked at The Bush, the High Tide Festival, New Theatre Royal Portsmouth, the Royal Court and Sheffield’s Crucible. She is Paines Plough’s playwright Fellow 20/21. Her 10-part Podcast drama The Piper, co-written with fellow playwright Natalie Mitchell and produced by Somethin Else for BBC Sounds, was broadcast in November 2020. It starred Tamsin Outhwaite and Kacey Ainsworth.

Set in 1645, The Witchfinder’s Sister follows the story of Alice Hopkins, who comes home to Manningtree to live with her brother after her husband is tragically killed. But home is no longer a place of safety, as rumours of witchcraft spread through the town. Alice discovers her brother much changed, as a reign of hysterical terror takes hold. Alice begins a desperate race to reveal what’s compelling the obsessively cruel Witchfinder General, before more innocent women are found guilty.

Playing Bridget is Debra Baker (Russell T Davies’ It’s a Sin, Channel 4), with Miracle Chance as Grace (Be More Chill, Shaftesbury Theatre, West End and Other Palace), George Kemp as Matthew (Bridgerton, Netflix), Lily Knight as Alice (Saint Maud, Film 4, BFI and Escape Plan Productions), Jamie-Rose Monk as Mary (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Bridge Theatre) and Anne Odeke as Rebecca (The Winter’s Tale, Royal Shakespeare Company).

The production is directed and choreographed by Jonnie Riordan (Nigel Slater’s Toast, West End/UK Tour), with design by Libby Watson (The Philanthropist, Trafalgar Studios, West End), lighting design by Matt Haskins (Peter Pan Goes Wrong, Apollo Theatre West End, UK, Australasian Tours) and sound design by Owen Crouch (I, Cinna (The poet), Unicorn Theatre).

The Witchfinder’s Sister is a highlight of the Theatre’s Essex On Stage programme, made possible by the generous support of The Clothworkers’ Foundation.

Tickets to The Witchfinder’s Sister cost £12.50 – £29 plus 65p QRenew Fee, tickets for under 26s are just £8. A pre-recorded audio description is available at all performances from 11 October. There will be a live audio description on Saturday 16 October at 2.30pm. To book, visit queens-theatre.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01708 443333.

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is delighted that its world premiere of Douglas Rintoul’s critically acclaimed new musical Love Letters, has received a nomination in the Off West End Theatre Awards.

Assessors from The Offies (Off West End Theatre Awards) have nominated the show for New Musical.

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. Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is one of over 80 participating venues across the capital.

This brand new musical premiered at the Theatre in July and is written and directed by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s Artistic Director Douglas Rintoul. This funny and popular working class love story includes hits from Essex’s very best, and songs ranging from 60s to today, artists featured are Alison Moyet, Billy Bragg, Billy Ocean, Blur, David Woodcock, Depeche Mode, Jessie J, Olly Murs, Sandie Shaw and The Tremeloes.

Douglas Rintoul, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s Artistic Director, and the writer and director of Love Letters said: ‘We’re thrilled that our new musical has been nominated for an Offie. It’s always a risk making something new, especially during these uncertain times, so it’s a joy that the show is being enjoyed by our returning audiences and recognised by the industry in this way.’

Glowing reviews include:

★★★★ ‘Warm and gentle humour keeps things lively and engaging. The production pulls at the heartstrings but is never overly sentimental. An enjoyable and entertaining experience’ LondonTheatre1

★★★★ ‘The band’s playing is so brilliant, it’s likely many of the audience will be heading to iTunes after the show, keen to keep listening to Essex music’ Musical Theatre Review

‘Love Letters is the all-singing, all-dancing and all-Essex musical which the world didn’t even know it was missing’ Romford Recorder

‘If you’re a fan of films like ‘When Harry Met Sally’ or ‘The Last Letter from Your Lover’, ‘Love Letters’ may be the show you’ve been waiting for. With authentic characters and a fantastic soundtrack, this is not a show to be missed’ Polka Dot Pages

‘It’s a ‘good ole knees up’ night out to reminisce about the area many grew up in and share many memories with a selection of songs from some of Essex’s most successful singers’ London Theatre Reviews

‘The night was lots of fun and I really felt part of the show as we clap along and even found myself singing along to all of the well-known songs that originated in Essex’ Hornchurch Life

‘A jukebox musical full of fast paced fun. This is a show for everybody and will have you clapping in your seats’ The Havering Daily

This production is a highlight of the Theatre’s Essex On Stage programme, made possible by the generous support of The Clothworkers’ Foundation.

Love Letters runs until 21 August. For more information and tickets, click here or call the Box Office on 01708 443333.

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is delighted to announce that the first show of its autumn 2021 season will be a revival of the National Theatre’s 2017 production of Beginning by David Eldridge. This ‘gorgeous new play’ (Independent) has been eagerly waiting in the wings since last September.

Amanda Ryan, best known for her role on Channel 4’s Shameless as Sgt. Carrie Roger, will play Laura in Beginning. Ryan’s numerous acting credentials include the BBC adaptation of Adam Kay’s This is Going to Hurt starring Ben Whishaw, Harriet Walter and Alex Jennings, due for release later this autumn; Casualty (BBC); The Forsyte Saga (Granada Television). For the big screen, Ryan has starred alongside Bob Hoskins, Anthony Head and John Shrapnel in the rom-com Sparkle and with Cate Blanchett in the Academy Award-winning film Elizabeth. Ryan has performed in many theatre productions including plays at the following prestigious London venues: the Criterion Theatre, the Playhouse Theatre, Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre and the National Theatre.

Simon Darwen will be playing Danny in Beginning. Darwen’s TV credits include Russell T Davies’ Years and Years for BBC/HBO starring Emma Thompson, Rory Kinnear and Russell Tovey; The Bletchley Circle, Silent Witness and the BBC’s Call the Midwife. His theatre credits include Missing People (Leeds Playhouse/National Theatre Tokyo), King Lear (Theatre Royal Bath), Mad About the Boy (Young Vic), Lizzie Siddal (Arcola), Love Love Love (Paines Plough), Our Country’s Good (Out of Joint) and The Merchant of Venice (RSC).

Every story starts somewhere… It’s the early hours of the morning and Danny from Upminster is the last straggler at Laura’s party. The flat’s in a mess. And so are they. One more drink?

Beginning takes a touching look at the first fragile moments of risking your heart and taking a chance.

This will be the second play of David Eldridge’s produced by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, with 2019’s homecoming revival of In Basildon playing to national critical acclaim. Beginning will play at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 3 – 18 September 2021.

This tender and funny critically acclaimed smash hit received its world premiere at the National Theatre before transferring to the West End. It’s being revived and relaunched in Hornchurch before embarking on a national tour.

Tickets to Beginning cost £12.50 – £29 plus 65p QRenew Fee, tickets for under 26s are just £8. There’s an audio described performance on Saturday 11 September at 2.30pm. To book, click here or call the Box Office on 01708 443333.