The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is delighted to be presenting the British premiere of two-time Olivier Award-winning Ken Ludwig’s critically acclaimed farce, A Fox on the Fairway. The season’s opening show runs at the theatre from 25 August – 16 September.

Ken Ludwig is America’s second most performed playwright who has written twenty-four plays and musicals, with six Broadway productions and seven in London’s West End. After a successful production of Ludwig’s Lend Me a Tenor in 2014, the Queen’s Theatre is excited to be bringing this gloriously preposterous comedy to British audiences for the first time. Ludwig’s other productions include Crazy For You (5 years on Broadway, Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Musical).

This hilarious romp takes audiences on a charmingly whacky adventure about love, life and a man’s eternal affair with… golf. The shenanigans in the clubhouse are packed full of slapstick, quick-fire wit and tongue-in-cheek humour. Expect breakups and make-ups, love affairs, revealed family secrets and lots of madcap comedy.

It’s the day of the annual golf tournament between rival country clubs. Bingham, president of Quail Valley, discovers that his star player has switched sides. Wagering his wife’s antique shop on the outcome now seems like less of a sure bet. Fortunately, he discovers that his new young assistant is a phenomenally good golfer.

Bad weather, the lead lost, the shop is under threat, and Bingham’s wife catches him too close to his stunning sex-starved vice-president!

What else could possibly go wrong…? Golfing has never been so outrageous!

It stars Damien Matthews (The Woman in Black, Tour & West End), Natalie Walter (Noises Off, National Theatre), Romayne Andrews (Hamlet, Royal Shakespeare Company), Simon Lloyd (The 39 Steps, West End), Sarah Quist (Travesties, West End) and Ottilie Mackintosh who recently appeared as Young Jo in Joanna Lumley’s Little Cracker (Sky 1). Philip Wilson is directing (previous Artistic Director at Salisbury Playhouse); his credits include the recent immersive staging of Grimm Tales and acclaimed The Three Lions.

‘Ken Ludwig has a wicked sense of comedic anarchy, giving his characters such zany idiosyncrasies that they soar to dizzying heights!’ The Washington Examiner

A Fox on the Fairway runs from 25 August – 16 September at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch. Tickets are from £12.50 – £29 with £10 tickets available for Under 26s at certain performances. Audiences can see this show and two more Queen’s Theatre productions (The Ladykillers and The Invisible Man) for just £14 each with a Jump the Q season ticket. For more details and to book, call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or click here.

We’re hosting a Family Fun Weekend on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 July to celebrate 25 years of our vibrant youth theatre, QYouth, and you’re all invited! Join us for fun, games and activities that the whole family can enjoy between 10.30am and 7.30pm.

While you’re here why not treat yourself to a tasty afternoon tea at 3.30pm on Saturday 8 July or watch a musical version of the family favourite, The Wind in the Willows, featuring an incredible cast of over 120 young performers? Performances are at 7pm both days and 2pm on the Sunday.

This event celebrates the fantastic work created by members of QYouth over the last 25 years and gives former members the opportunity to return and be part of ‘The Big 25^th Moment’ reunion photo at 5pm on Sunday 9 July. Since 1992, our youth theatre has provided over 95,000 engagement opportunities for young people aged 7 – 18 in Havering.

The funds raised will go towards supporting and nurturing young talent, enabling us to continue to provide quality training and theatre experiences to young people for years to come. So come and get involved and help support your local theatre!

Tickets for the afternoon tea and The Wind in the Willows can be purchased online at queens-theatre.co.uk or by calling the Box Office on 01708 443333. Entry to the family fun weekend is free.

Here’s a breakdown of the key events happening over the weekend:

Saturday 8 July

10.30am – 7.30pm – Join us for fun and games in our foyer. Activities include a cake sale, cake decorating, a raffle, a book sale, crafts and more.

3.30pm – In the theme of Ratty’s picnic on the river, join us for a tasty afternoon tea with a selection of sandwiches, cake and scones served with traditional tea and a glass of Prosecco (For more information and tickets click here.)

7pm –The Wind in the Willows performance (For more information and tickets click here.)

Sunday 9 July

10.30am – 7.30pm – Join us for fun and games in our foyer. Activities include a cake sale, cake decorating, a raffle, a book sale, crafts and more.

2pm – The Wind in the Willows performance. (For more information and tickets click here.)

5pm – ‘The Big 25th Moment’ reunion photo

7pm – The Wind in the Willows performance (For more information and tickets click here.)

Were you were one of the original members of QYouth with founder Terry Abbott and Lea Madlin in 1992? The Queen’s Theatre wants to hear from you!

We’re appealing to past members of our dynamic youth theatre, QYouth, to reunite for our 25^th anniversary.

This July marks 25 years of our youth theatre, QYouth and to celebrate we’re inviting former members to come back and reminisce in the memories of their time here as well as reconnect with old friends. We’ll be capturing ‘The Big 25^th Moment’ in the form of a reunion photograph on Sunday 9 July at 5pm. The meeting point for the photograph is by the foyer stage. We’re encouraging as many people as possible to return to the theatre and be part of this fantastic piece of history. Former members will also be able to leave their mark by writing about their memories and stories alongside a display of production photos over the last 25 years in the foyer.

The Queen’s Theatre is celebrating QYouth’s 25 year anniversary by hosting a family fundraising gala over the weekend of 8 – 9 July. Families throughout Essex and East London are invited to join in the celebrations and can expect a range of fun games, stalls and workshops in the theatre’s foyer from 10am – 7.30pm on both days.

A cast of over 120 young people from QYouth will be providing the entertainment, treating audiences to a world premiere of the family favourite, The Wind In The Willows. Performances start at 7pm on 8 & 9 July, with a 2pm matinee on 9 July.

Over the last 25 years, our Youth Theatre has provided over 95,000 engagement opportunities for young people aged 7-18 in Havering. QYouth has grown from just 8 members in 1992 with founder Terry Abbott, to accommodating 150 young people every week across 7 groups. The QYouth programme offers young people opportunities in drama, dance and technical theatre, enabling them to develop their creativity in the arts, unlock potential, gain confidence and have fun through the power of theatre. Graduates of QYouth include Lloyd Warbey (Disney’s Art Attack), Gemma Salter (TV and West End performer) and Billy Irving who will be appearing in the upcoming UK tour of War Horse.

Learning & Participation producer James Watson says, ‘We want to celebrate these 25 incredible years with all those who have been a part of it, whether for a short period or as a long standing member. QYouth has been a remarkable springboard for so many young people, whether or not they have followed a performing arts route in later life, and we are excited to get back in touch with past members, and see where their journeys have taken them.’

Come celebrate in style with live entertainment, catch up with old friends, share stories and be part of history in this fantastic fundraising event to support QYouth so it can continue to grow and enrich the lives of young people for another 25 years.

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is delighted to be celebrating 25 years of nurturing and showcasing young talent in the form of our dynamic youth theatre, QYouth this July.

To mark this brilliant achievement, we’re inviting you to join us on 8 – 9 July as we host a celebratory fundraising weekend suitable for the whole family! It will be a fantastic opportunity for the local community to come together and celebrate the success and development of our youth theatre, QYouth; as well as fundraise so we can continue to grow and enrich the lives of young people for the next 25 years.

We’re encouraging families throughout Essex and East London to join in the celebrations. You can expect a range of fun games, stalls and workshops in the theatre’s foyer from 10am – 7.30pm on both days. A free exhibition celebrating QYouth’s history will also be in held in the café.

A cast of over 120 young people from our QYouth will be providing the entertainment, treating you to a world premiere of the family favourite, The Wind in the Willows. This production has been specially adapted by James Watson and Andrew Linham to mark this fantastic milestone. Performances are at 7pm on 8 & 9 July, with an additional 2pm show on 9 July. This production is sponsored by East Thames and supported by the Queen’s Theatre’s very own Theatre Club.

Over the last 25 years, our youth theatre has provided over 95,000 engagement opportunities for young people aged 7-18 in Havering. The QYouth programme offers young people opportunities in drama, dance and technical theatre, enabling them to develop their creativity in the arts, unlock potential, gain confidence and have fun through the power of theatre. Graduates of QYouth include Lloyd Warbey (Disney’s Art Attack), Gemma Salter (TV and West End performer) and Billy Irving who will be appearing in the upcoming UK tour of War Horse.

So join in this fantastic weekend of games, theatre and fun in support of the Queen’s Theatre’s vibrant youth theatre. It’s been at the heart of the community for thousands of young people and the funds raised will go towards continuing to support young people passionate about the arts for years to come.

To book tickets for The Wind in the Willows please call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or visit: https://queens-theatre.co.uk/whats-on/show/the-wind-in-the-willows/

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is excited to announce its new season of superb comedy and thrilling drama to provide audiences with the very best in live entertainment.

The season opens with a British premiere of the farcical comedy A Fox On The Fairway, written by Ken Ludwig, one of America’s most performed playwrights. This hilarious romp about love, life and a man’s eternal love affair with… golf is filled with headlong humour, exuberant personalities and romantic entanglements. It runs from 25 August – 16 September.

The madcap comedy continues with The Ladykillers from 3 – 21 October. Celebrated television writer Graham Linehan (Father Ted, The IT Crowd) has adapted the Ealing classic which tells the story of how an old lady discovers the room she has let out to a string quintet is infact a hardened gang of criminals planning the great Kings Cross Train Robbery! The theatre is delighted to again be co-producing with New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich and Salisbury Playhouse on this humorous tale.

Finally, audiences will not want to miss the thrilling new adaptation of H.G.Wells’ iconic science-fiction novella, The Invisible Man. Filled with live music, illusion and adventure, this world premier arrives on the stage in this suspenseful escapade by award-winning theatre maker Clem Garritty. It runs from 27 October – 18 November.

Tickets for the theatre’s cost-effective jump the Q season ticket go on sale on 13 May. By purchasing this season ticket, theatregoers can enjoy all three in-house productions from just £14 per show. It’s the most affordable way for audiences to their get theatre fix this autumn!

A jump the Q season ticket provides savings of up to nearly 45% on the best seats for all three Queen’s Theatre shows. Choose between a super-flexible Premium ticket for £52 or a super-affordable Saver for just £42 for the whole season! Book by 16 September 2017.

Individual tickets for these three productions go on sale on 27 May. For further information about jump the Q and to book tickets, call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or visit https://queens-theatre.co.uk/join-support/jump-the-q/

On Sunday 21 May, a feast of dance styles will come together as young people from across East London and Essex showcase their talents in the Queen’s Theatre’s annual dance festival, First Feat.

It is a fantastic festival of creativity enabling local dance groups aged 11 – 19 from different backgrounds with varying styles and interests to be united by a passion for dance.

Audiences will see 13 dynamic performances from Essex Dance Theatre, Hotsteps Dance, Apogee Stars Stage School, Lose Control, Beverly Marks Stage School, East London Youth Dance Company, Jam Company and the Queen’s Theatre’s very own youth dance company, QDance.

Now in its 19^th year, First Feat has been a major platform for celebrating local talent, involving thousands of young people over the years. Hosting this year’s event is choreographer and dancer for Boy Blue Entertainment, Tyrone Isaac-Stuart. He says, ‘You should come to First Feat and realise that it’s not impossible to want to dance. Be inspired, challenged and entertained. You’ll see some great performers and support dancers at all levels and abilities. Movement should reflect cultural diversity and seeing the youth perform (and their approach to dance) is really exciting. There are so many types of dance being showcased and it’s hard to find that variety being presented elsewhere. Opportunities and events like this don’t happen frequently enough in the dance world and certainly not at this level and quality – it’s a great performance space being shared by some fantastic groups.’

Young people aged 12 – 18 inspired by the event can develop their dance technique in a variety of styles by joining the theatre’s QDance company from September. For more information email learning@queens-theatre.co.uk

First Feat runs at the Queen’s Theatre on Sunday 21 May at 7pm. Tickets are £7.50 and can be purchased by calling the Box Office on 01708 443333, in person at the theatre or online at https://queens-theatre.co.uk/whats-on/show/first-feat-2017/

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch has launched a new ‘pay what you think it’s worth’ initiative for two specially commissioned plays by two of the UK’s most exciting emerging playwrights.

A talented cast from the renowned East 15 Acting School’s BA Acting course are set to stage a season of world premieres featuring two fantastic productions inspired by historical events. These brand new plays explore the current issues of sexuality, gender politics, migration and cultural identity and will be performed for the first time on the Queen’s Theatre’s stage.

The theatre is offering theatregoers an amazing opportunity to see two brand new pieces of work at no cost, but is asking for a donation to be made at the end of the performance which reflects what they thought of the piece.

Celebrated Camden writer Ché Walker’s (Royal Court and National Theatre) newly commissioned play, Anne Bonny and Mary Read takes its cue from the lives of the notorious 18th-century pirates and cross-dressing lesbian lovers. The cast of Anne Bonny and Mary Read will bring an epic historical canvas to life with burning modern questions.

Playwright Samantha Ellis (Arcola, Birmingham Rep, Hamstead Theatre) tells the extraordinary tale of Dom Marco Raphael, who was supposedly the only Jew in England at the time of Henry VIII, picking his way through a murky world of court intrigue, racism and prejudice. With scintillating wit and piercing compassion The Only Jew in England brings to life a world of music, glamour, flirtation and gripping political tension.

East 15 Acting School has produced actors, directors, theatre practitioners and technicians for the international stage, TV, film and radio including Alison Steadman (Pride and Prejudice, Gavin & Stacey) who has endorsed the drama school. She said,

‘As a graduate of East 15, I am delighted to say that it is one of the most innovative drama schools in the country. I attribute the training and opportunities I experienced here hugely to my success as an actress. With two of the country’s most exciting playwrights heralding these brand new productions, I encourage you to see these sensational pieces of quality theatre. It’s a chance for you to see the stars of tomorrow; I have no doubt they will go on to have a bright and long-lasting future.’

Other graduates of East 15 include Blake Harrison (The Inbetweeners) Stephen Daldry (The Crown, Billy Elliot the Musical) and Ann Mitchell (Eastenders).

Anne Bonny and Mary Read runs at the Queen’s Theatre from 17 – 20 May and The Only Jew in England runs from 18 – 20 May. To reserve a seat call the Box Office on 01708 443333, visit in person at the theatre or online at:

https://queens-theatre.co.uk/whats-on/show/play-1/

https://queens-theatre.co.uk/whats-on/show/play-2/

(online reservations include a non-refundable £1 administration charge).

The Queen’s Theatre is delighted with the wonderful praise it has received for its refreshing take of Educating Rita which opened earlier this week.

Ros Philips’ production of this iconic, heart-warming two-handed play has received plenty of admiration from critics including four-star ratings.

West End Wilma’s four star review described the ‘delightfully exhilarating’ production as ‘funny, touching and uplifting’.

Phoenix FM applauded the ‘quality of the acting’ as being ‘simply superb’ and hailed the production as being  ‘a joy to experience’.

Here are some comments from other critics:

‘A lovely play that continues to ask questions about class and culture’ London Theatre 1

‘This straightforward, honest production still packs a punch’ Reviews Hub

‘The stage is a masterpiece’ Hornchurch Life

‘Captivating to watch’ Bedrock FM

The theatre spoke to audience members after the show, watch this video to see what they thought!

Educating Rita runs at the theatre until 13 May. For more information about this production and to book click here.

Local audiences had their first chance to sit onstage at last night’s opening performance of Educating Rita and were left hugely captivated by this immersive viewing experience.

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch has extended its stage to create a truly unique and intimate setting for Willy Russell’s iconic two-handed play. This rare opportunity enables a limited number of theatregoers every night to lose themselves in a piece of terrific theatre by sitting alongside the actors on stage.

The theatre spoke to audience members after the show about their experience. Many were delighted to have been able to see the production in this way as it enhanced their overall enjoyment of the classic comedy. Here are some of their comments:

‘Sitting on the stage was quite unique because you felt you were immersed in the room with them; we were very, very close. It was nice to see the intimacy with the actors talking to each other. If you’ve got the chance, the best seats in the house are certainly on the stage.’

‘The seats on the stage made it feel a bit cosier, really good idea, really good addition.’

‘I had a great opportunity of being on the stage so I really got involved within the show and felt every emotion. It was a really beautiful play.’

‘Excellent production and sitting on the stage was surreal.’

‘I enjoyed being in the heart of the show on stage.’

Willy Russell’s hilarious yet moving comedy, Educating Rita follows the story of a hairdresser wanting to better herself with higher education. Frank becomes her assigned tutor, but grudgingly accepts the challenge. Slowly, Frank realises that his enthusiastic student has much to teach him too – making him question himself, his work and his very being in the process.

Educating Rita runs at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch until 13 May. Tickets are from £18 – £29 and under 26s can sit onstage for £5. To book call the Box Office on 01708 443333, visit the theatre in person or go online at queens-theatre.co.uk. Please note the production is suitable for people aged 12+ as it contains some strong language.