Get the whole family into the Christmas spirit this December with a fun trip to see Sparky the Elf and the Secret Toyshop. This new festive adventure for 6 – 11 year olds is produced by the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and performed in a top secret location in Romford’s The Mercury Mall Shopping Centre from 15 – 30 December.

There’s a top-secret door in the heart of Havering. Open it up and venture down mysterious passageways and you’ll find a little bit of the North Pole! Sparky Tinselbottom, a dedicated but somewhat naughty Elf, is frantically working away in the build-up to Christmas making toys. Shh! No one knows she is there except for you! She’s terribly lonely so join in as one of her friends and discover fantastical tales of elves and lost toys from around the world. But don’t distract Sparky for too long, as Father Christmas needs everything to be ready for Christmas and the clock is ticking…

Playing the cheeky but friendly Sparky the Elf is Emma Swan. Her recent children’s theatre credits include The Elves (Red Rose Theatre Company,  Avenue Theatre Ipswich); The Princess and the Toad (The Colour House Theatre) and Jack and the Beanstalk (Cast Theatre, Doncaster).

Families must arrive 15 minutes before the advertised start time by the Help Desk on Level 2 (Street level), at Romford’s The Mercury Shopping Centre, Mercury Gardens, RM1 3EE, 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

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is searching for motivated and passionate young people aged 18-25 to take part in our Young Changemakers programme. This programme is designed to make sure that young people’s views inform the way the organisation is run – from advising on communications, fundraising and strategy, to acting as ambassadors at events.

As a Young Changemaker, you would play a vital role in ensuring the Theatre’s commitment to engaging young people, and creating future generations of young theatre-goers. You will be a representative for young people, and acting as an advocate for the Theatre in your own community.

We feel that Young Changemakers would be an ideal way to be exposed to and part of key conversations, instilling the confidence to take on leadership roles in both your personal and professional life. This is also a brilliant way to develop your knowledge in areas such as finance, marketing and programming.

Person specification

The group will meet six times formally throughout the year, with each meeting taking on a different project, crucial to the Theatre’s decision making process.

You should be able to commit to six two hour evening sessions a year, taking place at the theatre, as well as other events and projects throughout the year.

You will be independent and energetic, with an interest in theatre or a wish to become more involved in it. You should work well in a team, and be willing to participate in regular meetings and events in your free time.

You do not need to have previous experience, just the passion and commitment to make young people’s voice heard.

To apply, simply send a 200 word personal statement explaining why you would be a good fit for the Young Changemakers programme to mirandaw@queens-theatre.co.uk

Applications close 7^th December.

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and the National Theatre has today announced tickets for its musical adaptation of William Shakespeare’s, As You Like It, will be available to the public on Friday 23 November at 10am. This is their second Public Acts production together, produced under the National Theatre’s new initiative which creates extraordinary acts of theatre and community.

Five performances of As You Like It will take place at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 24 – 27 August. Tickets are £15 (plus 65p QNew Transformantion fee) and £7.50 for under 18s. Only 100 tickets per performance will be released to the public so audiences should book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Following the success of Pericles in the National Theatre’s Olivier Theatre this summer, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s Artistic Director Douglas Rintoul will direct As You Like It in a musical adaptation first seen at the Delacorte Theater, New York, in 2017 as part of The Public Theater’s Public Works programme.

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. Pericles director Emily Lim will collaborate with Douglas Rintoul in the role of Public Acts Director, continuing to work with the Public Acts community partners: Body & Soul, Bromley by Bow Centre, Coram, DABD, The Faith & Belief Forum, HASWA, Open Age and Thames Reach.

This version of As You Like It is by Director of Public Works Laurie Woolery and Shaina Taub, featuring music and lyrics by Shaina Taub, and set and costume design by Hayley Grindle. The score is infectious, with sounds ranging from calypso to pop, Broadway musical to soul.

Queen’s Angels can access a 48-hour priority booking period as of today, Wednesday 21 November from 10am. Queen’s Angels are those who regularly support the Queen’s Theatre’s work by making monthly donations. Audiences who would like to become a Queen’s Angel and receive priority booking to As You Like It can sign up here: queens-theatre.co.uk/join-support/become-a-queens-angel/

This landmark moment in the history of Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and London’s summer theatre for 2019 is not to be missed. More information about Public Acts and As You Like It can be found here.

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 across the UK over the past decades.

Supported by Arts Council England’s Strategic Touring Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Hertz, The Sackler Trust and Garfield Weston Foundation. The National Theatre’s Partner for Learning is Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is excited to announce musical theatre star Lee Mead will perform his new show My Story: A Dream That Became a Reality at the Theatre on Sunday 12 May at 7.30pm.

Selected from thousands of performers, Lee Mead was thrust into the spotlight in 2007 to play the iconic role of Joseph in the West End, an incredible run that had to be extended to satisfy public demand to see Lee wear the coat of many colours!

From there this young man’s career has been a never ending rollercoaster of differing engagements from stage to screen. In the West End Lee has appeared in classic musicals such as Wicked, Legally Blonde, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to name just a few, and his television credits include Casualty and Holby City, in which he still portrays “Lofty Chiltern”.  He has released five albums and appeared on countless others including The Best of Andrew Lloyd Webber.

This gentleman’s life has been a whirlwind of incredible achievements and now, for 2019, Lee wishes to give something back and invite his fans to join him for an intimate interview, completely stripped back where Lee gets the opportunity to talk not only as Lee the showman but also as Lee the man. Lee will talk about the magical moments, the highs the lows, the memories and of course the songs the audience love to hear.

Just Lee, a grand piano and a pianist showcasing the exquisite poignancy of his voice.

This is Lee Mead, this is a dream that became a reality, this is his story!

Queen’s Angels can access a 48-hour priority booking period as of today, Friday 16 November from 10am. Queen’s Angels are those who regularly support the Theatre’s work by making monthly donations. Audiences who would like to become a Queen’s Angel and receive priority booking to Lee Mead: My Story can sign up here. Details about the show can be found here.

Tickets go on sale to the public on Sunday 18 November at 10am and can be purchased online at queens-theatre.co.uk. Tickets are £22, with a £47 premium experience offer that includes a meet and greet with Lee Mead (Ticket price also includes an additional 65p QNew Transformation fee).

Lee Mead: My Story – A Dream That Became A Reality is presented by Total Productions.  

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is overjoyed to receive a generous £4,000 donation from McDonalds Romford towards QNew, an exciting programme of building improvements which will allow the Theatre to make high quality theatre in developed spaces.

The Theatre has been fundraising towards plans to innovate and renovate the iconic building for artists, participants and audiences alike, assisted by the introduction of a 65p QNew Transformation fee per ticket. This came into effect on the Theatre’s 65^th birthday, Friday 21 September. Since then, generous customers have already helped the theatre raise a public contribution towards QNew, in just two months, of £10,700. The Theatre was also recently awarded a grant of £350,000 by Arts Council England towards QNew.

The funds will contribute towards supporting a number of exciting projects throughout 2019. If all the £1million required is raised, these will 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

Havering McDonald‘s franchisee Gerry Byrne said, ‘It’s great to be supporting such a major part of our community and the excellent work the Theatre produces. The Theatre has brilliant plans for the future of the building and we’re really pleased to be contributing towards this.’

Douglas Rintoul, Artistic Director at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch said, ‘A massive thank you to McDonalds Romford for so generously supporting our exciting 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 superb productions.’

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

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

After last year’s sell out run at the National Trusts’ Rainham Hall, the Queen’s Theatre is delighted to be bringing its magical festive treat ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas home to Hornchurch from 1 – 23 December.

Based on the famous poem by Clement Clarke Moore, this fully immersive show sees families enter the bedroom of a Christmas mad seven-year-old. Youngsters will help him finish decorating his room, turning it into the cosiest, Christmassy bedroom in the world! Join in the countdown to Christmas and discover which toy he finds in his patchwork quilt advent calendar, and don’t forget to listen out for the elf bells!

This story about a child’s encounter with Santa Claus and his desperation to see him again is suitable for accompanied 3 – 7 year olds.

Local actor Samuel Ward-Smith is returning to perform this joyful Christmas cracker of a production for the second year. Samuel Ward-Smith is a graduate from Mountview Academy and has a strong association with the Queen’s Theatre. He was a member of its youth theatre, QYouth for 8 years (2005 – 2013) and appeared in several of the Theatre’s pantomimes over the years, including starring as King Rat in Dick Whittington in 2013. He also completed an apprenticeship with the theatre before going to drama school.

Written and directed by the Queen’s Theatre’s Artistic Director Douglas Rintoul, this unique experience will get everyone, young and old, peering a little further into the sky this Christmas Eve.

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas will be performed at the Queen’s Theatre in its new rehearsal space from 1 – 23 December. Tickets are £7.50 for all weekday performances and £10 at weekends. Performance times vary; please see the Theatre’s website.

Families must arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled performance start time in the Theatre’s foyer.

To book, call the Queen’s Theatre’s Box Office on 01708 443333 or click here.

Ian McKellen is to celebrate his 80th birthday next year by raising funds for theatres, with a new solo show which will play on 80 stages across the UK. His show Ian McKellen On Stage comes to the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch on Sunday 24 and Monday 25 February 2019. His intimate show is a mixture of anecdote and acting, including Tolkien, Shakespeare, others…and you the audience.

Ian McKellen says: ‘I’m celebrating my 80th birthday by touring a new solo show to theatres I know well and a few that I don’t. The show starts with Gandalf and will probably end with an invitation to act with me on stage. In-between there will be anecdotes and acting. I open at my local arts centre in January and end up by August in Orkney. It’s high time I performed in Hornchurch. The original Queen’s Theatre offered me my first professional job in 1961 for £7 a week. Like many another young actor I was attracted by being part of a repertory company doing a different play every fortnight. However, I took a rival offer from the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry for £8 a week! My 2 performances in Hornchurch – at last – are a way for me to say thank you for that encouraging offer, long ago, and to benefit the QNew Transformation programme and support local artists.’

Profits raised from this rare opportunity to see one of Britain’s greatest actors in a local venue will go towards the Theatre’s QNew Transformation fundraising programme. QNew is an exciting programme of building improvements which will allow the Theatre to make high quality theatre in developed spaces. More information about QNew can be found here.

Queen’s Angels can access a 48-hour priority booking period as of today, Friday 9 November from 10am. Queen’s Angels are those who regularly support the Theatre’s work by making monthly donations. Audiences who would like to become a Queen’s Angel and receive priority booking to Ian McKellen On Stage can sign up here. Details about Ian McKellen On Stage can be found here.  

Tickets go on sale to the public on Sunday 11 November at 10am and can be purchased online at queens-theatre.co.uk. Tickets are £50, with a £65 premium experience (plus a 65p QNew Transformation fee) offer that includes the best seats, an ice-cream in the interval and a post-show reception with prosecco and canapés. There are also a limited number of £20 tickets for Under 26s.

Ian Mckellen On Stage is presented by Ambassador Theatre Group and directed by Sean Mathias.

More information about the tour can be found here: www.ianonstage.co.uk

The spirit of Halloween is still well and truly alive at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch as its chilling production of Alan Ayckbourn’s Haunting Julia, runs until 17 November.

It’s received plenty of critical praise from audiences and critics alike, here’s what they have to say:

★★★★ ‘An intriguingly entertaining evening’ Broadwaybaby

★★★★ ½ ‘Impeccable timing’ Anne at the Theatre

‘An impressive ending’ The Stage

‘The actors perform faultlessly throughout the night…I especially enjoyed Clive Llewellyn as Ken Chase’ Hornchurch Life

‘Matthew Spencer delivers a strong and nuanced performance as Andy Rollinson’ Spyinthestalls

‘Admirable performance of Sam Cox’ The Reviews Hub

‘Worthy of the West End! I would definitely recommend it’ This is Local London

‘This production was well cast and gave a great evening’s entertainment, with some superb surprises along the way. If you like suspense drama then this is definitely one for you.’ Theatre Life

‘If you’re looking for a show which is exciting, tense and has a generous sprinkle of supernatural thrown on top, this is a good one for you. It’s brilliantly paced, the dialogue is fantastic and the ending is dramatic beyond belief.’ Polka Dot Pages Blogger

‘There is much to think about in the play, especially about letting go and moving on’ London Theatre 1

‘Haunting Julia is certain to have you jumping out of your seats’ GatewayFM

‘A thought-provoking production’ Romford Recorder

‘Very impressed’ Audience Member

‘Excellent with first class acting’ Audience Member

‘Mesmerising, lots of jumps from your seat!’ Audience Member

‘Compelling viewing’ Audience Member

‘The ending was fantastic!’ Audience Member

Haunting Julia runs at the theatre until Saturday 17 November. For more information about this production and to book click here.

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch has been awarded a grant of £350,000 by Arts Council England towards QNew, an exciting programme of building improvements which will allow the theatre to make high quality theatre in developed spaces. Only a small number of applicants nationally have secured this funding, which is highly competitive especially in London, and recognises the important work Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch does.

The Theatre has been fundraising towards plans to innovate and renovate the iconic building for artists, participants and audiences alike, assisted by the introduction of a 65p QNew Transformation fee per ticket. This came into effect on the Theatre’s 65^th birthday, Friday 21 September. Since then, generous customers have already helped the theatre raise a public contribution towards QNew, in just over a month, of £6,481.

The funds will contribute towards supporting a number of exciting projects throughout 2019. If all the £1million required is raised, these will 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

Douglas Rintoul, Artistic Director at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch said, ‘We’d like to say a huge thank you to the Arts Council England and to all our loyal customers for their generous support for this important QNew project. QNew is an exciting new vision and long overdue bit of love for our wonderful building, ensuring it’s used by more of our community and enabling us to make the best work that we possibly can.’

Joyce Wilson, London Area Director, Arts Council England said: ‘QNew is an exciting moment for the London borough of Havering. The improvements to Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch will help it to expand and diversify both its participants and audiences, and this is very good news for local talent and the community. This work is crucial to the theatre realising its plans for the next decade, and will help to improve its accessibility.’

The Arts Council England’s Small Capital Grants help ensures their National Portfolio Organisations have the right buildings and equipment to deliver their work and become more sustainable and innovative in business. These Small Capital Grants allow organisations to consolidate and improve existing arts and cultural facilities and equipment, make energy efficiencies and develop digital technologies.

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

Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum, it’s almost panto time at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, oh yes it is! The Queen’s Theatre is excited to present the action-packed Christmas pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk, from 28 November – 6 January.

Enjoy all the fun of the fair this festive season! When Jack sells Pat, his beloved family cow, for magic beans, he soon discovers they open up an unexpected world of thrilling adventure. Join Jack and dotty mum Dame Trott as they scale the Beanstalk, outwit the Giant and are reunited with Jill, the girl Jack loves.

The cast includes John Barr, Hollie Cassar, Celia Cruwys-Finnigan, Richard Emerson, Sheldon Greenland, Claire Greenway, Taylor Rettke, Elizabeth Rowe and James William-Pattison. They will be supported by a talented Young Company, a cast of 30 local schoolchildren.

This Christmas spectacular is peppered with pop hits from across decades! These include This is Me (The Greatest Showman), Great Balls of Fire (Jerry Lee Lewis), 9 to 5 (Dolly Parton), Reach For The Stars (SClub7), One Way or Another (Blondie), Baby Shark (Pink Fong) and many more.

Brought to you by the same team as last year’s record-breaking Beauty and the Beast and 2016’s Cinderella, this actor musician version of the popular panto tale is filled with bundles of audience participation and hilarious slapstick.

Jack and the Beanstalk is written by Andrew Pollard, directed by Martin Berry, with designer Richard Foxton, musical director Gemma Hawkins, lighting designer Prema Mehta, sound designer Leigh Davies and choreographer Sundeep Kent.

The theatre is offering several access performances; a Relaxed performance on Wednesday 2 January at 5.30pm, a Dementia Friendly performance at 1.30pm on Thursday 3 January followed by a 6.30pm Signed performance and an Audio Described performance on Friday 4 January at 1pm.

Jack and the Beanstalk will be performed at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 28 November – 6 January. Tickets are £12.50 – £29 (plus 65p QNew Transformation 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 here.