This autumn, the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch turns 65 and is celebrating in style with 70s themed party celebrations on Friday 21 September – and everyone is invited! This evening of fundraising boasts fine food, brilliant live music and the chance to dance the night away to disco hits of the decade.

Celebrations coincide with the theatre’s first show of the season, Abigail’s Party, a hilarious situation comedy by Mike Leigh set in seventies Romford. Guests can enjoy reception drinks with the actors from the play at 7pm before sitting down to an exclusive 70’s themed three course meal on stage; the first time such an event has ever happened. The evening continues until late with live music in the theatre’s foyer party Disco Inferno. Dinner tables are available centre stage for £100 per person or in the wings for £80 per person.

Party-goers who just want to dance the night away can enjoy a live foyer band playing 70’s classics at Disco Inferno from 9pm. Tickets are £25 per person.

As a not-for-profit organisation and registered charity, all funds 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.

For more information and to book tickets call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or visit https://queens-theatre.co.uk/whats-on/show/65th-anniversary-celebrations/ 

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch has today announced a thrilling variety of productions in its vibrant autumn season of limitless entertainment.

From 26 – 28 August, a huge company comprising of a number of community organisations from across Greater London will join together with professional artists to perform Shakespeare’s Pericles on the National Theatre’s Olivier stage. This production is the National Theatre’s first Public Acts production (a nationwide programme to celebrate community and create extraordinary theatre) of which the Queen’s Theatre is proudly the first theatre partner on.

The award-winning 201 Dance Company brings its urban and hip-hop fused show SKIN to the theatre on Sunday 23 September. This ‘thrilling’ and ‘thought-provoking’ (The Wee Review) five-star dance production is an emotionally driven story of family, identity and belonging.

A variety of new comedy shows visits the theatre including BAFTA-winning stand-up and voice of Love Island Iain Sterling with his critically acclaimed show U OK HUN? X on Sunday 16 September. Audiences can also join Eshaan Akbar, Sindhu Vee, Hyde Panaser and Nabil Abdul Rashid for a night of jokes and laughter with the Desi Central Comedy Show on Sunday 4 November. In addition, Noreen Khan (BBC Asian Network) hosts a night of comedy with some of the UK’s favourite female acts with LOL (Ladies of Laughter) on Friday 11 January.

This Christmas, the theatre is producing three festive treats for families to enjoy. As well as its panto extravaganza Jack and the Beanstalk (28 November – 6 January), it’s bringing the immersive ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (1 – 23 December) for 3 – 7 year olds home after last year’s sell out run at the National Trust’s Rainham Hall. Finally, there is a brand new festive adventure for 7 – 11 year olds to join Sparky the Elf and the Secret Toyshop from 15 – 30 December in a secret location in Romford.

The Queen’s Theatre is also producing DNA from 7 – 14 February, a modern day black comedy with a dark heart tailored specifically for young people. DNA is written by award-winning writer Dennis Kelly (Channel 4’s Utopia and Matilda the Musical), directed by the theatre’s Artistic Director Douglas Rintoul and performed by final year students from the BA (Hons) Acting CDT course from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

These programme highlights join the Queen’s Theatre’s recently announced produced season which features the hilarious situation comedy Abigail’s Party (co-produced with Derby Theatre, Wiltshire Creative and international partner Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg) from 30 August – 22 September; a piece of new writing, Abi, which runs alongside Abigail’s Party from 4 – 22 September (as part of Derby Theatre’s RETOLD series); the UK regional premiere of the multi-award-winning musical Once (co-produced with the New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich) from 3 – 20 October; the chilling ghost story Haunting Julia from 1 – 17 November; as well as recently announced visiting work which includes the new play Dishoom! from 25 – 29 September (produced by Rifco Theatre Company, Watford Palace Theatre and Oldham Coliseum Theatre) and the heart-breaking drama LOVE  from 25 – 27 October (co-produced by the National Theatre and Birmingham Repertory Theatre).

Tickets are on sale now. For more details and to book call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or go online at https://queens-theatre.co.uk/whats-on/

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is delighted to announce that it will be providing a dementia-friendly performance of its musical production, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

The dementia-friendly performance will take place on Thursday 24 May at 1.30pm. Tickets for this performance are £14.50 (carer goes free) and can be purchased by calling the theatre’s Box Office on 01708 443333.

The Queen’s Theatre works closely with local care homes to ensure its theatre is accessible for everyone. This includes providing a dementia-friendly performance of its annual pantomime since 2016 as well as hosting several performances throughout the year of Down Memory Lane, a show tailored for people with dementia and their carers. Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch has been recognised for supporting audiences with dementia as last year’s dementia-friendly performance of Beauty and the Beast was featured on BBC London news.

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is an uplifting and heart-warming tale that has it all – outrageous costumes, flamboyant choreography and plenty of sass. It’s jam-packed with 70s, 80s and 90s dance floor favourites including I Will Survive, Hot Stuff, I Say A Little Prayer and Finally.

Based on the smash hit movie starring Terence Stamp and Guy Pearce, audiences are promised a highly entertaining new take on an iconic musical.

The regional professional premiere of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert runs at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch until Saturday 26 May.For more information and to book call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or visit https://queens-theatre.co.uk/whats-on/show/priscilla-queen-of-the-desert/

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is delighted that its regional professional premiere production of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert has received three nominations in the prestigious Off West End Theatre Awards.

Assessors from The Offies (Off West End Theatre Awards) have nominated Mark Inscoe for Male Performance, Josh Tye for Male Performance in a Supporting Role and a joint Musical Director nomination for Adam Gerber and Tom Self (Adam Gerber is the Musical Director for the overall show and Tom Self is the Performance Musical Director).

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 part of more than 80 participating venues across the capital and a final shortlist will come out early next year.

This four-star actor-musician version of the glamorous feel-good musical written by Stephan Elliot and Allan Scott is directed by the Queen’s Theatre’s Artistic Director Douglas Rintoul. This ‘fun and flirtatious’ (LondonTheatre1) production has left audiences laughing and strutting home in high spirits, with it being dubbed as ‘a show to see’ by theatre blogger There Ought To be Clowns.

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert runs at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch until Saturday 26 May. For more information about the show call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or visit https://queens-theatre.co.uk/whats-on/show/priscilla-queen-of-the-desert/

The regional professional premiere of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert opened at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch this week and it has left critics laughing and strutting home in high spirits.

London Theatre 1 were thoroughly entertained by this ‘fun and flirtatious production’, awarding it four-stars.

Pocketsize Theatre applauded the production for being ‘a celebration of what it means to be yourself.’

Here’s what other critics have been saying:

★★★★‘Sassy disco glam down under’ RemoteGoat

★★★★ ‘An enjoyable romp with a big heart’ ActDrop

★★★★ ‘A talented ensemble cast of actors and musicians, plus some clever staging, sets and props bring this West End classic to life’ Everything Theatre

‘Powerfully performed regional premiere’ The Stage

‘Loud, proud & camp as hell!’ Stage Faves

‘A show to see’ There Ought to be Clowns

‘Glitter, drag queens and a pink bus – if this doesn’t recommend a show, I don’t know what will’ thespyinthestalls

‘Full of Outback charm, tons of sequins and familiar pop anthems’ Theatre Life

‘Vibrantly colourful and outrageously fun’ Yellow Advertiser

‘I want to immediately see it again’ Romford Recorder

‘It’s all about lights, music and dance’ Hornchurch Life

‘Sensational choreography’ Bedrock FM

‘Spectacularly fun and feel good night out’ Essex Enquirer

‘West End quality’ GatewayFM

Priscilla Queen of the Desert runs at the theatre until Saturday 26 May. For more information and tickets call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or visit https://queens-theatre.co.uk/whats-on/show/priscilla-queen-of-the-desert/

April was Autism Awareness Month. To celebrate the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch housed an arts exhibition by RAGS (Romford Autistic Group Support) which was open for the public. It displayed artwork created by adults and young people with Autism.

Every year RAGS presents an Autism Awareness Award to a person or organisation that has supported the group and helped to raise awareness of Autism in the community. This year, it was awarded to the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch for their continued support to RAGS over the past few years. The award was presented to the theatre by the Mayor of Havering, Linda Van den Hende, on Saturday 28 April.

Speaking on behalf of RAGS, Jackie Perryman says, ‘We are pleased to award the Queen’s Theatre for 2018, they have been very supportive of RAGS and as a small charity with no regular funding, this is much appreciated. The art exhibition has been held regularly almost every year at the Queen’s Theatre allowing the public and theatregoers to view the children’s artwork. It is a very valuable event to us and all helps to raise awareness of Autism within our community. The theatre has been most generous in offering our families seats at their pantomime and also providing Autism-friendly performances to families who would normally avoid this type of activity. A huge thank you to all at the Queen’s Theatre for your support to RAGS.’

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch was delighted to receive the award in recognition of its continuing work towards ensuring the theatre is accessible for everyone. This includes providing Relaxed Performances of its annual pantomime since 2016. A Relaxed Performance is a specially adapted performance tailored for anyone who would benefit from a quieter and supportive environment including people with Autism, sensory and communication disorders, learning disabilities or Dementia.

RAGS was founded in 2003 by a group of Havering parents who have children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. It became a registered charity in 2009 and is dedicated to helping families in Havering.

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch has today announced its autumn programme for its 65^th anniversary year.

The season opens with the hilarious situation comedy Abigail’s Party by Mike Leigh which runs from 30 August – 22 September. Made famous by the BBC Play for Today starring Alison Steadman, the Queen’s Theatre is co-producing this fresh but faithful look at an iconic classic with Derby Theatre, Wiltshire Creative and international partner Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg.

Following the success of their production of Made in Dagenham in 2016, the Queen’s Theatre and New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich are joining forces to produce 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 and plays from 3 – 20 October.

From 1 – 17 November, the Queen’s Theatre is producing Haunting Julia. 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.

Theatregoers can enjoy all three of these productions with a cost-effective Jump the Q season ticket from £45 (£15 per show). The season ticket goes on sale from Monday 9 April and individual tickets can be purchased from Monday 16 April.

Derby Theatre and the Queen’s Theatre have also commissioned Abi by Atiha Sen Gupta, a fresh new piece of writing as part of Derby Theatre’s RETOLD series, which comprises of new one-woman plays. Abi, which will run alongside Abigail’s Party from 4 – 22 September, is told from the viewpoint of 15 year old Abisheera who surveys what’s left from the previous generation’s night before, in response to Mike Leigh’s seminal play. Deals on Abi are available when purchased with Abigail’s Party or a Jump the Q season ticket.

The theatre is also welcoming two major visiting productions. Dishoom! a new play by Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti comes to the Queen’s Theatre as part of a national tour from 25 – 29 September and is produced by Rifco Theatre Company, Watford Palace Theatre and Oldham Coliseum Theatre.

LOVE, written by Alexander Zeldin transfers to the Queen’s Theatre from 25 – 27 October, and is co-produced by the National Theatre and Birmingham Repertory Theatre. This new play about the housing crisis premiered at the National Theatre and was hailed by the Evening Standard as ‘the National Theatre’s play of the year’ in 2017. This is part of Queen’s Theatre‘s developing relationship with the National Theatre which includes being Theatre Partner on the Public Acts project.

For further information about these productions, Jump the Q and to book tickets, call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or visit queens-theatre.co.uk

From 3 – 7 April, the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch will be hosting its first ever Take Part Festival. It features fantastic work performed by its youth theatre as well as other local young people including dance troupes and schools and community groups.

The festival begins with six youth companies presenting brand new work from 3 – 5 April as part of the National Theatre Connections Festival 2018. Each year the National Theatre commissions ten new plays for young people to perform, bringing together some of the UK’s most exciting writers with the theatre-makers of tomorrow. The Queen’s Theatre is thrilled to be partnering with the festival for the third year running and is looking forward welcoming five drama groups from across Essex to its stage.

On Tuesday 3 April, audiences will see two thrilling performances; St. Bernard’s High School is performing The Free9 by In-Sook Chappell and Store Room Youth Theatre will be bringing Chris Thompson’s Dungeness to life.

The drama continues on Wednesday 4 April with Outloud Productions performing Chris Bush’s The Changing Room and Green Shoes Arts get political by staging a performance of These Bridges by Phoebe Éclair Powell.

Finally, Big Deal Young Actors Company will be presenting a unique piece of theatre using [Blank] by Alice Birch and the Queen’s Theatre’s Cut2 Company will be performing The Free9 on Thursday 5 April. Performances start at 7pm and tickets are £6. (Cut2 recently performed TheFree9 in the atmospheric Barn at Thames Chase Forest Centre last month).

The 20^th anniversary of the Queen’s Theatre’s dance showcase First Feat will take place on Friday 6 April at 7pm. First Feat celebrates the creativity and diversity of young dancers in East London and Essex. The showcase enables local dance groups aged 11 – 19 from different backgrounds with varying styles and interests to be united through a passion for dance. The Queen’s Theatre QDance group will be performing their new work, titled Boiling Point. Tickets are £7.50.

Take Part Festival concludes with the QYouth One Act Play Festival 2018 Twisted Tales on Saturday 7 April at 7pm. This celebratory evening features four one-act plays brilliantly performed by over 100 members of the Queen’s Theatre’s youth groups. Tickets are £10.

James Watson, Learning and Participation Producer at the Queen’s Theatre says, ‘We are so proud of all the young people we work with, and what better way to celebrate than a week jam-packed with young talent presenting powerful, vibrant and inspiring pieces of theatre.’

For more information about Take Part Festival and tickets call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or visit queens-theatre.co.uk