Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is overjoyed to win the UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre award for the East region in the UK Theatre Awards, in association with Smooth Radio.

The Theatre is among 12 regional winners announced this morning by UK Theatre and all will be invited to the annual UK Theatre Awards ceremony on 9 October at London’s historic Guildhall, where the overall winner will be announced.

The award, which is voted for by the public, is an opportunity for audiences to celebrate their local theatre.

Julian Bird, Chief Executive of UK Theatre, said: “Theatres play a vital role in communities across the UK, so it has been wonderful to see so many votes cast. This campaign brings together audiences, theatres, performers and producers and gives everyone the opportunity to celebrate their local venue.”

Smooth Radio presenter Paul Phear said: “It is a privilege to team up with UK Theatre once again as we crown the nation’s Most Welcoming Theatre. This Award is even more special because it is the audiences, including our Smooth Radio listeners, who have chosen the winner. I look forward to announcing the result next month.”

Lesley Manville OBE will be compèring at the ceremony, where Vanessa Redgrave CBE will be receiving The Gielgud Award for Excellence in the Dramatic Arts, while Sir Ian McKellen will collect the award for Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre.

This year’s nominations demonstrate the breadth and depth of outstanding talent and achievement in theatre and the performing arts throughout the United Kingdom, on and off stage. The full list can be viewed at www.uktheatre.org

Follow UK Theatre on Twitter @UK_Theatre

For more information about the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or visit queens-theatre.co.uk

Sitcom king Bob Larbey’s heart-warming comedy A Month of  Sundays, the newly-opened Queen’s Theatre production, is receiving plenty of critical praise.

Popular reviews website London Theatre 1 has awarded the play an impressive four stars, hailing it ‘incredibly witty and enjoyable’.

Critic Chris Omaweng applauds the sensitive and humorous treatment of some of its ‘weighty’ themes and is full of admiration especially for the hilarious quick-fire repartee between central character Cooper (played by William Hoyland) and cleaner Mrs Baker (Connie Walker).

He concludes: ‘This is a production that has the warmth of a cup of tea received just after coming in from the cold on a wintry day, and the charm of a loving and loved grandparent with a heart of gold. Recommended.’

The Evening Standard’s Fiona Mountford is also full of praise: “It’s refreshing to see a comedy revival that tackles issues of ageing.”

Here’s what the critics are saying:

‘This black comedy maintains an enduring appeal’ The Evening Standard

‘Satisfying revival of a prescient play’ The Stage

‘The night was a lot of fun and I suggest you go see it if you want to go see a show that will have you laughing at one moment and crying another.’ Hornchurch Life

‘This gentle comedy… strikes just the right note’ Reviews Hub

‘Genuinely moving’ Anne at the Theatre

‘A bittersweet comedy’ Gateway FM

Read reviews in full here.

A Month of Sundays runs until 15 October. Call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or book online.

From tarts and flans to sponges and cupcakes, a delectable variety of treats is on offer at the Macmillan Coffee Morning this Friday from 10am – 12 midday in the Café.

The Theatre is proud to be one of hundreds of organisations across the UK taking part in what has become known as The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.

The annual event is Macmillan Cancer Care‘s biggest fundraising drive for people facing cancer.  Last year, the Queen’s Theatre was delighted to raise more than £1,000 as part of a national total of £25 million – and very much hopes to beat that amount this year.

Event Co-ordinator Maureen Wilson says: “We all know family and friends that we have lost to this awful disease and also who are fighting it every day. Whatever we raise, big or small, will help in some way. Just turn up on the day and eat lots of cake!”

If you cannot make it, you can donate to MacMillan Cancer here

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is excited to host Havering’s third Fun Palace on Saturday 1 October from 2 – 5pm – an afternoon of FREE entertainment for all ages as part of a nationwide celebration of arts and sciences.

The Theatre joins thousands of venues and organisations across the UK in this fantastic cultural campaign – inspired by the artistic vision of the late renowned theatre director Joan Littlewood.

Join us for mindboggling Science workshops with Havering Astronomical Society as we explore all things from black holes to constellations. Learn how to protect our precious environment with fascinating talks from Havering Friends of the Earth.

Get your apron on and get stuck in to cookery workshops with superb local chefs. Or kick back and listen to our live music and poetry throughout the afternoon. While you’re sitting down grab a coffee and learn how to finger knit with our avid knitters In Stiches!

Calling all Charlie Chaplin fans! Learn the art of mime and all things physical theatre in a hands-on workshop. Work with a professional to find your voice using vocal exercises specifically designed to build confidence. Harmonise your way into a Gospel Music workshop with Romford Elim Church and learn about the history of the art form.

Fancy something quieter? Havering Libraries’ book swap, invites you to bring an old book with you and swap it for one you’ve never read. Perfect for bookworms of all ages.

Find inner peace with a revolutionary meditation workshop led by Hornchurch Buddhist Group or give yoga a go at our taster workshop.

There’s plenty of arts and crafts to get stuck into. Don’t miss the chance to learn the art of felting with a professional fashion textile designer.

And much much more all completely free!

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is delighted to announce that, along with Rifco and Watford Palace Theatre, it has been nominated for Best Stage Production for Laila The Musical at this year’s Asian Media Awards.

The official announcement was made at ITV’s London studios by ITV’s Commissioning Editor for Entertainment Asif Zubairy, actor and comedian Tez Ilyas, Dean of the School of Arts and Media at University of Salford Professor Alan Walker, Executive Director of Mediacom Sanjay Sabi, Chair & Founder of charity partner Asian Circle Santosh Bhanot, MP Roseana Allin-Khan and Umbreen Ali from the Asian Media Awards.

The annual event showcases the very best talent working in the media and creative industries. The awards ceremony will take place at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate on 27 October.

Laila The Musical produced by the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Rifco and Watford Palace Theatre toured England this spring/summer. Written by Pravesh Kumar, with music by Sumeet Chopra and lyrics by Dougal Irvine the new British musical retold the popular eastern love story of Laila Majnu. The show received rave reviews from press across the country and was watched by over 14,000 audience members.

For a full list of finalists and categories visit: www.asianmediaawards.com

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch proudly presents A Month of Sundays from 23 September – 15 October, an award-winning heart-warming comedy by the renowned Bob Larbey.

Audiences know and adore the work of the celebrated late writer Bob Larbey, author of many iconic television sitcoms including The Good Life, As Time Goes By and A Fine Romance.

About A Month of Sundays: In his pleasant nursing home, Cooper rails against his ageing body but remains proud of not having ‘lost his marbles’. Aylott, his friend, is increasingly concerned about losing his. Wit and humour keep their worries at bay: Cooper flirts outrageously with pretty nurse Wilson while both men fantasise about escaping to Switzerland. But when Cooper discovers that his grandson no longer wants to see him, and Aylott’s worst fears are realised, he knows a turning point has been reached. Is it ever enough to keep treating life as a comedy… if not, the painful question is: where does he go from here?

A Month of Sundays was Larbey’s first play and Russell Bolam directs this first major revival. Winner of the Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy of the Year, this unmissable homage to the experience of growing old is a vibrant arena of quick-fire wit – seamlessly blending laugh-out-loud hilarity with moments of immense poignancy.

Douglas Rintoul, the Queen’s Theatre’s Artistic Director, says: “It was an important decision for us to stage A Month of Sundays. As a cultural hub in an area with a large number of residents aged 65 and over, we believe it is crucial to programme work which celebrates age – work that recognises and reflects the diversity, interests and concerns of our local community.”

William Hoyland stars as Cooper. William has worked extensively with the most eminent theatre companies across the UK and he has also appeared in some of the world’s best-known films as well as numerous television hits. These include: Return of the Jedi, Gandhi, For Your Eyes Only, Scoop, Life on Mars, The Thick of It, Call the Midwife and Rules of Engagement.

Aylott is played by Robin Hooper and Anna Leong Brophy is Nurse Wilson. They are joined by: Gareth Clarke, Sophie Russell and Connie Walker.

This wonderfully talented company share a wealth of experience between them, having performed  at the most notable venues across the UK and internationally including the National Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe, The Royal Court, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and in numerous West End productions. Film and television credits include: The Office, Coronation Street, Vera, Monarch of the Glen, Scott & Bailey, Lucan, Hollyoaks, Silent Witness and Secret Diary of a Call Girl.

Director Russell Bolam has worked with numerous luminaries of stage and screen including the Olivier Award-winning actors Matthew Kelly and Kathryn Hunter, Downton Abbey star Lily James, John Hannah (Four Weddings and a Funeral, The Mummy trilogy) and Paul McGann (Withnail and I, Doctor Who).

Design is by Anthony Lamble, lighting design by Katharine Williams, sound design by Rebecca Smith and movement direction by Jack Murphy.

A Month of Sundays runs at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 23 September – 15 October. Tickets are from £12.50 – £29. Call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or book online.

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is delighted to announce it has received a £12,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an exciting new project, Women’s Stories of Ford Dagenham.

This project runs in conjunction with the Queen’s Theatre’s newly-opened production of Made in Dagenham, a musical celebrating a momentous piece of local history and the women who led the fight for equal pay in the 1968 strikes at the Ford Dagenham plant.

Women’s Stories of Ford Dagenham will tell the stories of women who worked at the Ford plant between 1968 and 1984 and the Queen’s Theatre is appealing for people – male and female – to come forward with their memories of this time.

The project seeks to explore how Ford created a community for its workers, whether it still does today, and the reasons behind wanting to work for Ford. The Theatre wants to learn more about the struggles felt solely due to gender, and the relationships between male and female colleagues.

Women’s Stories of Ford Dagenham is looking for stories that can help everyone understand what true working life was like at Ford, how this differed from home life, and how important the plant was – and still is – in shaping the lives of the communities within Dagenham, Barking and Havering.

“We are thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and celebrating the historical achievements and legacy of so many women in our community,” says Lucy Curtis, who is heading up the initiative.

She adds: “We’re excited to hear stories about the collective and individual struggles during and after the strikes of 1968. We want to know: what did it take to walk out and stay out of work for three weeks? Did you feel supported? How much belief did you have in your fight? We are also interested in knowing what a normal working day was like for you and why you decided to work for Ford. Why did you decide to leave Ford and how did it feel to go?

“Women’s Stories of Ford Dagenham wants to include all women who had a connection with the plant. Perhaps you know or knew someone who worked at Ford – a relative, friend or neighbour – and would like to share their story on their behalf. We are interested in hearing from anyone, male or female, who has a connection to this time.”

This initiative will culminate in a wide-reaching, multi-faceted exhibition about the lives of these incredible local women who changed history.

Stuart Hobley, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund London, said: “HLF is pleased to support the Women’s Stories of Ford Dagenham project. Thanks to National Lottery players, the stories of those who worked on the Ford Dagenham plant and helped fight for female sewing machinists to be recognised as skilled workers will have their stories told. This significant moment in local history will now be preserved for generations to come.”

Anyone interested in taking part should visit the Women’s Stories of Ford Dagenham page on this website, or call the Learning and Participation Department on 01708 462373 or write to: Women’s Stories of Ford Dagenham, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT.

Did you know that the women of Dagenham, Barking and Havering changed the world in 1968?

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is looking for 12 young women aged 16-18 from the Dagenham, Barking and Havering areas to take part in our exciting new project: Women’s Stories of Ford Dagenham.

This initiative will culminate in a wide-reaching, multi-faceted exhibition about the lives of these incredible local women who changed history.

Volunteers will participate in fun weekly workshops throughout October, where they will meet and interview the women and listen to their stories. They will create a visual and audio exhibition inspired by those stories, enabling anyone from East London and Essex to see, hear and learn from their creation.

Anyone interested in being part of this project should send Lucy Curtis, the Facilitator for the initiative, an e-mail about why they would like to take part (no more than a paragraph) to dagenhamstories@gmail.com – by 6pm on Monday 19 September. They should also include a contact telephone number.

The Queen’s Theatre is over the moon with two five-star reviews and the wide critical acclaim for the musical Made in Dagenham.

London Theatre 1‘s glowing write-up pronounces the production “A stunning and sensational show manufactured to a superb standard.”

The Musical Theatre Review is bursting with praise for the show’s skilful portrayal of an inspirational piece of local history and how wonderfully it weaves together comedy and emotion.

And The Guardian has selected the production to sit amongst its exclusive list of top tickets to get this week!

The 27-strong actor-musician production is also gathering enormous acclaim from critics across the board. Here’s what they’re saying:

“It wins us over — in its rousing calls to arms, its salute to solidarity and sheer gutsiness.”

The Times

FOUR STARS “This musical…has made a triumphant homecoming with a feisty new production…Essex audiences are loving it”

Daily Mail

FOUR STARS “Douglas Rintoul’s lovely, lively production bubbles with ebullient good humour, but isn’t afraid to let the bad times have their moments too”

Evening Standard

FOUR STARS “So heartfelt and sincere… Terrific cast”

The Stage

FOUR STARS “An entertaining, heart-warming reminder of an important battle in the struggle for women’s rights”

Reviews Hub

“Go for the songs, the jokes and a thoroughly brilliant night of entertainment”

Romford Recorder

“Incredibly funny… fabulous songs, witty and heart-wrenching…An empowering play for everyone”

East London Enquirer

“Hilarious, heartfelt, passionate and uplifting…simply outstanding…buying tickets to see it again”

Phoenix FM

“Dazzlingly good”

Reviews Gate

“Perfect balance of humour, emotion and the serious message of equality and a fight for justice that remains significant today.”

Yellow Advertiser

“The best show I’ve seen at the Queen’s Theatre”

Hornchurch Life

“Full of fantastic voices and phenomenal performances”

West End Wilma

Read reviews in full here. 

Made in Dagenham – The Musical runs until 17 September. Call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or book online.

£1 tickets are up for grabs to watch Made in Dagenham: The Musical  – for Havering residents who have never been to the Queen’s.

As part of the Queen’s Theatre’s Good Neighbour Scheme, an inventive new drive to make the performing arts as accessible as possible for everyone, £1 tickets are on offer to residents of the Borough who are new to the Queen’s Theatre for the 4pm matinee this coming Bank Holiday Monday 29 August.

“We believe that everyone living in Havering should visit the Queen’s Theatre at least once in their lifetime,” says Artistic Director Douglas Rintoul, who launches his debut season with the smash hit musical Made in Dagenham, which he directs.

Especially keen that the Queen’s reaches out to more people in the community than ever before, Douglas adds: “This is a truly unbeatable bargain! We very much hope many people who have never been to the theatre in Hornchurch before will take it up, have a wonderful afternoon and be infected by the magic of live performance. It’s all about making the arts as accessible as possible and to involve as many residents as possible in the vibrant, busy life of their local theatre.”

Anyone interested should call the Box Office on 01708 443333 and quote ‘Good Neighbour Scheme’. This is a limited offer so customers are urged to book very soon.

The Queen’s Theatre is excited to present the regional premiere of Made in Dagenham: The Musical, running from 26 August – 17 September – bringing this wonderful musical home to its East London roots after its West End triumph. This fantastic actor-musician show, a co-production with New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich, features the largest Queen’s Theatre cast – a company of 27 super-talented performers. It is inspired by the true story of the sewing machinists’ strike at the Ford Dagenham factory, which eventually led to the Equal Pay Act.

About the show:

Dagenham, 1968. Rita’s a busy mum, loving wife and hard-working Ford factory employee. But something’s very wrong. Rita and her female colleagues find themselves working long hours sewing car seats for far less money than the men. And they’ve had enough. Finding a voice she never knew she had, Rita leads the women on a trailblazing battle for equal pay, taking on the unions, Ford’s top brass and the Government. As the pressure mounts, Rita struggles to keep up the fight and the happy home she’s worked so hard for.

Made in Dagenham – The Musical has a book by Richard Bean, music is by David Arnold and lyrics by Richard Thomas. Based on the Woolley/Karlsen/Number 9 Motion Picture. This production is presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited. For more details about the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, visit queens-theatre.co.uk.