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.

Life today as a teenager can be painstakingly difficult, especially in a world where pressures of wearing the right clothes, having the right group of friends and listening to the right music are rife. And not forgetting the obsessions with instant messaging 24-7, taking daily selfies, experimenting with fun filters on Snapchat and documenting everyday life on Instagram.

This digital life of millennials is brilliantly captured in Abi, a fresh new play jointly commissioned by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and Derby Theatre. This vibrant one-woman show explores how a fiery 15-year-old girl experiences modern society by delving into her realm of boys, family, partying, ambitions and social media, with wit and flair.

Abi plays at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 4 – 22 September and transfers to Derby Theatre from 29 September – 20 October. It is written by one of Britain’s most exciting new female writers, Atiha Sen Gupta. Her credits include the TV British teen drama series Skins, What Fatima Did, her debut play which premiered at the Hampstead Theatre to critical acclaim in 2009 and Counting Stars which played at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and at Theatre Royal Stratford East.

Playing Abi is Safiyya Ingar who has recently finished filming with the BBC in Stephen Poliakoff’s period drama Summer of Rockets. Her stage credits include LAVA (Nottingham Playhouse) and Growth UK Tour (Paines Plough).

Sarah Brigham, Artistic Director at Derby Theatre is directing Abi and said, ‘Atiha is one of the most exciting new playwrights in the country and I know Safiyya will deliver a powerhouse of a performance in this one woman show which explores the heartache of growing up.’

Abi was commissioned as a contemporary response to Mike Leigh’s classic comedy, Abigail’s Party, from an original idea by Sarah Brigham. Abi runs for approximately 45 minutes and can be seen as a stand-alone piece or as a companion piece directly before a performance Abigail’s Party  (4.30pm or 5.30pm) or after at 9.30pm at the Queen’s Theatre. Tickets for Abi are £12 but discounts are available for audiences wishing to see the two productions together. £8 tickets are available for Under 26s to any performance of Abi.

Audiences can book tickets for Abi by calling the Queen’s Theatre Box Office on 01708 443333 or online at https://queens-theatre.co.uk/whats-on/show/abi/  The production contains some strong language and has an age guidance of 14+.

Calling all local actors!

On Monday 17 September, our Artistic Director Douglas Rintoul will be hosting an open casting event for upcoming productions for local actors with an interest in the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch.

Actors should originate from or be based in Havering, Barking & Dagenham, Redbridge or South Essex and should have professional training or credits.

Please send a CV and a short paragraph or a video outlining your connection to the area to artistcallout@queens-theatre.co.uk with the subject header ‘Open Call Submission’ no later than Monday 10 September. Successful applicants will be given more details about what to prepare and a time slot on Monday 17 September. If you would prefer an evening meeting, please let us know.

If you have any questions please include them in your email and we will get back to you as soon as possible.