22 August - 13 September - The Queen's Theatre

y John Godber22 August - 13 September

autumn season 2008 fromcut to the chase…the queen’s theatre’s professional resident companyClassic comedy ofBritish bad manners26 September – 18 Octoberby Noël CowardThe ever-so-eccentric Bliss family are off fora glorious summer weekend in the country.But all four of them have had exactly thesame idea and invited a wholly unsuitableguest to stay. With sleeping arrangementssorted, the stage is set for a jolly party…mostly at their visitors’ expense!Mad-cap musical adventure31 October – 22 Novemberby Ken Hill1920s Britain. Professor Niven and a bunch ofbumbling explorers embark on an Egyptianadventure in search of the legendaryMummy’s Tomb. But watch out Professor –just when you think you’ve got the mystery ofthe Mummy wrapped up, another spookysurprise is lurking around the corner!box office 01708 443333www.queens-theatre.co.uk

welcomehello and welcome tothe queen’s theatreIt has been a bustling summer at the Queen’s as we continuecelebrating the 10th birthday year of our professional resident companycut to the chase…We toasted the ensemble’s decade of success with a Charity GalaConcert Performance of Return to the Forbidden Planet in July – what aspecial night! It was a wonderful reunion of past and present membersof cut to the chase… including some of the show’s original West Endline-up!The cream of our local acting crop took to the stage last month in the2008 Queen’s Theatre Community Play – Harry From the Hill, whichcelebrated Harold Hill’s 60th anniversary. Over 50 members of thecommunity, young and old, worked with our professional artistic andproduction team to put on this original, home-grown play.Congratulations to all involved!Summer’s not quite over yet and it is now time to relive the traditional English seaside holiday inJohn Godber’s September in the Rain.This heart-warming comedy combines the tale of a happy marriage with well-loved staples of theBritish beach break - from drizzle to donkeys. John Godber is a big favourite at the Queen’sTheatre and since cut to the chase… was founded, we have staged several of his works namelyBouncers, April in Paris and Perfect Pitch.I do hope you’ll join us for the rest of the Autumn Season as we have a truly colourful line-up oftheatre in store. Summer sunshine continues well into September and October as we bring youHay Fever, a classic comedy of British bad manners by another of Britain’s most popularplaywrights Noël Coward.Opening on Halloween night will be Ken Hill’s suitably scary The Mummy’s Tomb – a mad-capmusical adventure featuring bumbling explorers, pyramids, laughs, songs and spooky surprises!Tickets cost from £13.50 - £22, unless you’ve booked a jump the Q subscription, where tickets areonly £12.50! For further information and to book, call the Box Office on 01708 443333.And rounding off the year in an explosion of glitter and magic will be our festive pantomime DickWhittington – don’t forget to book early to beat the Christmas rush.But for now, grab your bucket and spade, roll up your trousers and dip your toes in the bracingBritish sea as we take a joyous jaunt to Blackpool in September in the Rain.Bob CarltonArtistic Director

guest shows – coming soon to the queen’sMon 1 Sep | 7.30pm | £17.50 | £15 under 16sthe westendersmore of the best musicals everA spectacular concert of hit songs from theworld’s greatest musicals. Starring atalented cast who have appeared in theWest End’s biggest shows, all backed by asuperb live band. This is a non-stop musicalextravaganza that will leave you cheeringfor more.Sat 6 Sep | 2.30pm | £12£10 if you book all 3 Magical Matineesthe great americansongbookCelebrate four decades of American popularsong, from the early hits of Tin Pan Alleywith Berlin, Kern and Gershwin, through tothe great musicals of Rodgers, Hart andHammerstein and tributes to Al Jolson,Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra. This allsinging,all-dancing show revisits thoseglorious, glamorous years.Mon 15 Sep | 7.30pm | £15 | £12 under 16ssing-a-long-a hairsprayA brand new Sing-a-long-a show based onthe 2007 hit film starring John Travolta,Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken andQueen Latifah, with lyrics on-screen soeveryone can join in. This is a wild, noisy,fun-filled experience. Dance in the aisles,boo Velma and be amazed at JohnTravolta’s fat suit.From the team that brought you Sing-a-longaSound of Music.Fancy dress is not obligatory but highlyrecommended!Sat 4 Oct | 2.30pm | £12£10 if you book all 3 Magical Matineesfive star swingAn exciting afternoon of hits you’ll know andlove. From Benny Goodman and Glenn Millerto unforgettable songs like Mr Bojangles andBad, Bad Leroy Brown plus some footstompingjazz… they swing like crazy!Save money when you see all 3 Magical Matinees:Great American Songbook | Five Star Swing | Pack Up Your Troubles.Save money when you see all 3 Magical Matinees:Great American Songbook | Five Star Swing | Pack Up Your Troubles.Mon 8 Sep | 7.30pm | £17 | £15 groups 10+my brilliant divorceThis touching story will tug at theheartstrings of anyone who has ever beenloved. When Angela’s husband has a midlifecrisis and a mid-European affair, shefinds herself adrift in a sea of shiftysolicitors, helpline counsellors, adisapproving mother and Christmas all onher own…Nominated for Best Entertainment at theOlivier Awards in 2004 after a sell-out WestEnd run, My Brilliant Divorce stars awardwinningcomedienne Dillie Keane whosemany credits include Fascinating Aida, Meand My Girl, The Vagina Monologues andGrumpy Old Women.“As irresistible as a chocolate truffle…. asweet surprise”The Mail on SundaySun 14 Sep | 7.30pm | £20elkie brooksWith classics such as Pearl’s a Singer,Sunshine after the Rain and Fool if youthink it’s Over, Elkie Brooks is one of theUK’s most powerful vocal talents. Don’t missthis electric evening with Elkie – a uniquechance to catch her singing her classic hits,some blues, jazz and numbers from herforthcoming album.Mon 6 Oct | 7.30pm | £10grand unionyouth orchestrawith members of havering youth orchestraCelebrate the talent and diversity of Haveringand East London’s best young musicians.Led by Grand Union’s own professional worldmusicians, this unique orchestra performs anintoxicating mix of different jazz, classical andfolk traditions. Their repertoire will take youon a global musical journey from SouthAmerica, the Caribbean and Africa to EasternEurope, South Asia and China; with dancerhythms from samba and ska to bhangra andWest African drumming. There really issomething for everyone.Sun 19 Oct | 7.30pm | £19.50 | £17.50 concthe elvis yearsThe UK’s number one Elvis show is back!Don’t miss this outstanding concertperformance of the hit West End showJailhouse Rock with its original star MarioKombou in a tour-de-force performance as‘The King’.The show captures Elvis’s musical life andfeatures over 40 of your favourite hits.“The King is re-born – the audience loved it”The Times“Still One of the great British voices”The Guardian

Sat 8 Nov | 2.30pm | £12£10 if you book all 3 Magical Matineespack up your troublesAn afternoon of non-stop singalongfavourites, mixing the best of Music Hallwith the great songs of the wartime 40s – allunder the watchful eye of your Chairman.Hurry on down to meet our very own PearlyQueen and enjoy a lovely afternoon out -this is entertainment the old fashioned way!Save money when you see all 3 Magical Matinees:Great American Songbook | Five Star Swing | Pack Up Your Troubles.Sun 9 Nov | 4pm | 7.45pm | £21 | £15 under 16smoscow balletcoppeliaFollowing their sell-out show last year, ahand-picked selection of Russia’s finestdancers return to the Queen’s for anotherstunning performance.Coppelia is one of the jewels of classical ballet.Based on a wondrous comic fairytale, we followa love story infused with charm and humour.A spectacular ballet that all ages will enjoy.Sun 16 Nov | 7.30pm | £17just like a womanbarb jungr sings nina simoneFresh from sell-out shows around the world,our greatest song-stylist celebrates the workof the late, great Nina Simone. Barb Jungr’spassionate voice and deliciously funnyperformances have drawn comparisons toEdith Piaf, Peggy Lee and Nina Simoneherself. Don’t miss her beautifully hauntingand unique Hymn to Nina, with classic hitsFeeling Good, Please Don’t Let Me BeMisunderstood, Lilac Wine, Just like aWoman and many more.“Magnificent... Jungr’s voice is truly athing of wonder” The Daily ExpressMon 17 Nov | 7.30pm | £17.50richard diganceWith a career spanning more than 30 years,Richard Digance is one of the mostsuccessful performers in British showbusiness. Don’t miss the master at work,performing his unique mix of songs, rhymesand stories.music in the foyerSun 21 Sep | 7.30pm | £8.50the liam grundy bandLaid-back humour and good time honky-tonkblues from Liam and his brilliant four-pieceband. Blending jazz, country and originalmaterial from Memphis to New Orleans, Liamhas proved a hit with audiences from Nashvilleto the UK’s National Theatre, where he oftenperforms. Liam regularly tours throughoutEurope and the US.Listen to Liam at:www.myspace.com/liamgrundyTues 23 Sep | 8pm | £8.50cockney ding dongIt’s time to Roll out the Barrel for a good oldfashioned ding dong! Mickie Driver presentsscores of songs, loads of laughs and plenty ofPearlies with top variety acts from DaleWarren, Gloria Kaye, Johnny Maxim andDavid Carter.Sun 26 Oct | 7.30pm | £8.50keith ball and friendsSwing and big band classics as sung by KeithBall, son of jazz legend Kenny Ball. Withspecial guests Rae Marnie and JoshDubovie.Listen to Keith’s silky smooth swinging soundat: www.myspace.com/keithballukTue 28 Oct | 8pm | £8.50noël cowarda musical celebrationNoël Coward’s most popular songs such asMad About the Boy and Someday I’ll FindYou from Private Lives and other evergreenclassics from the 20s and 30s by IvorNovello, George Gershwin, Cole Porter andmany more.Supported by theNoël Coward FoundationSun 23 Nov | 7.30pm | £8.50the famous potatoesEight great musicians bring you a high-energynight of toe-tapping tunes. Bluegrass, country,gospel, swing, folk, Cajun… The Potatoes playthe type of music they call “soil music” –because it’s earthy! Whatever it’s called, it’sfun, fast and very popular.Greene King sponsors music in the foyercoming soon box office 01708 443333

comedy charity galaFri 19 Sep | 8pm | £20We all love a good giggle, so don’t miss the return of the Romp.Following last year’s hugely popular show, it’s back withthe best stand-up comedians around…Jeff GreenJeff is one of Britain’s most popular comics, known to millionsfrom appearances on Never Mind the Buzzcocks,Have I Got News for You and They Think It’s All Over.“A complete gift for gags and observational comedy” ***** Metro“The funniest stand-up in Britain” The Sun“Stand-up’s most irresistible rogue” The Guardian“Very, very funny... Pin sharp comedy beautifully delivered” The Evening StandardJon RichardsonJon was nominated for the if.comedy (formerly Perrier) Best NewcomerAward at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival. He has supported Alan Carr onhis recent sell-out national tour and can currently be heard onRussell Howard’s BBC 6 show every Sunday morning.“Like a junior Victor Meldrew, only wittier. It’s rare to encounter a show soeffortlessly slick performed by someone so young” The Scotsman****“Faultless…heading for big things” bbc.co.ukBarbara NiceMrs Barbara Nice, comedy creation of Janice Connolly, has toured withJohnny Vegas and co-starred with Peter Kay on Phoenix Nights,Max and Paddy’s Road to Nowhere, That Peter Kay Thing andCoronation Street (playing Peter Kay’s mother).“As hilarious as it is possible to get” The Scotsman“Mouth-watering character comedy” Time Out“Imagine a hybrid between Mrs Merton and Victoria Wood” The TimesSteve WeinerSteve is a must-see rising star on the comedy circuit. From the Hackney Empire tothe Comedy Café he’s been busy winning all sorts of stand-up awards.“A skilled caricaturist, able to recreate a bunch of everyday archetypes as raucouslyfunny comic grotesques… Reminiscent of Matt Lucas “ Chortle“A real treat” The London Paper“Perfect blend of crowd-pleasing gags and subtle observation suggestinga bright future” The Evening StandardNot only will you laugh yourself silly, you’ll be helping to raise money for the Queen’s Theatre’s wide-reachingprogramme, from community education projects to entertaining tens of thousands of people each year.To find out more visit www.queens-theatre.co.uk/supportusRegistered Charity Number 248680Acts contain adult language.Book now by calling the Box Office on 01708 443333

a celebration of noël cowardfestival in the foyerWith Noël Coward’s comedy Hay Fever playing from 26 September – 18 October,the Queen’s is hosting a series of events celebrating the life of oneof the UK’s best-loved playwrights.29 Sep – 9 Nov | Foyer Exhibitionnoël cowarda life in picturesAn exhibition of photographs from Coward’s colourful life.Wed 15 Oct | 12noon - 2.30pm | £25*the letters of noël coward…over lunchDiscover the real Noël Coward over lunch in the Queen’s Foyer. Cast members of HayFever will join leading Noël Coward expert Barry Day for a series of fascinating readingsfrom his latest book The Letters of Noël Coward. Barry Day is the only person to begiven exclusive access to Coward’s private correspondence, which includes letters to andfrom Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, David Niven and many more.*Price includes lunch and a signed copy of the book worth £15. All proceeds of theevent will go towards the Queen’s Development Fund (Reg. Charity No. 248680).Tue 28 Oct | 8pm | £8.50noël coward - a musical celebrationMembers of cut to the chase… and guests celebrate the songs, style andshowmanship of the one and only Noël Coward. Includes Coward’s most popularsongs such as Mad About the Boy and Someday I’ll Find You from Private Livesand other evergreen classics from the 20s and 30s by Ivor Novello, GeorgeGershwin, Cole Porter and many more.Fri 26 Sep | 12 noon | £5open rehearsal – hay feverSupported by the Noël Coward FoundationQueen’s Theatre staff take audiences on a tour of the building, where they will get an exclusive look behind thescenes of Hay Fever and learn about the production’s design aspects from set construction to costume. This will befollowed by a talk from a member of the Queen’s professional creative team, a demonstration of rehearsal techniquesusing a scene from the play and sitting in on the play’s dress rehearsal – all this before the first preview performance!right royal romp / noël coward box office 01708 443333

‘Engaging andversatile cast’The Daily MailAbsolutely FrankMay 2008‘Real panache andwinning charm’The Guardiancut tothe chase…Twelfth NightApril 2008RelativelySpeakingMarch 2008the queen’s theatre’s professional resident companyThe Queen’s Theatre resident company of actor-musicianscut to the chase… celebrates its tenth birthday this year.And to mark this special anniversary, we bring you yetanother season of fun, laughter and music.cut to the chase… is the only ensemble of its kind in theUK. As well as acting, singing and dancing, every memberplays at least two musical instruments each.In the Autumn Season 2008, company members appear inSeptember in the Rain, Hay Fever, The Mummy’s Tomband the Christmas pantomime Dick Whittington as well astheatre-in-education tours Of Mice and Men and The UglyDuckling.cut to the chase… is based on the traditional repertorysystem. During the run of each production, the company isalso busy rehearsing the forthcoming play.From musicals to dramas, comedy to Shakespeare, it’sbeen a great decade of affordable, West End-calibre liveentertainment. So raise your glasses to this multi-talentedtroupe and toast its 10 years of success!PHOTOGRAPHS: NOBBY CLARK

cut to the chase...in a queen’s theatre productionby John GodberDirector Matt DevittSet Designer Christine BradnumCostume Designer Aimee EasterLighting Andy LewisVoice Coach Richard Ryder22 August - 13 September 2008

John GodberJohn GodberJohn Godber holds a remarkable position in modernBritish theatre. He is reputedly the third most stagedplaywright in the country (after Shakespeare and AlanAyckbourn) and yet he devotes his time and writingtalents to Hull Truck Theatre, which for all itssuccesses and influence, is still a small-scale,independent theatre company, lacking the resourcesand kudos of the big provincial venues and Londonhouses. That his plays transcend their relativelyhumble origins and go on to rank among the mostperformed of all works says a great deal aboutGodber’s talent and his instinctive understanding ofwhat makes popular and accessible theatre. Thattalent has seen him write nearly forty plays includingsuch enduring hits as Bouncers, Up ’n’ Under,Teechers, September in the Rain and Perfect Pitch,all of which have had audiences enthralled andentertained for much of the last few decades.And nor have his efforts gone unnoticed by thecritics. Since 1981 he has racked up an enviable haulof accolades, including the 1984 Lawrence OlivierComedy Award for Up ’n’ Under; every major awardat the National Student Drama Festival between 1981and 1983; no less than five Edinburgh Fringe FirstAwards for plays including Cramp, Happy Jack andUp ’n’ Under; and an incredible seven Los AngelesCritics’ Circle Awards for Bouncers, which was alsonominated for the 1985 Comedy of the Year Award(two further plays, On the Piste and April in Paris,were also nominated for the same award in 1983 and1994 respectively). And it doesn’t end there: awayfrom the theatre his screenplay for the 1991 BBC filmMy Kingdom for a Horse, which starred Sean Bean,was nominated for an alternative BAFTA while hisBBC2 educational film Odd Squad, co-written with hiswife Jane Thornton in 2005, won two BAFTAs in theSchools Drama and Original Writing sections.Certainly his most successful show, Bouncers, hasbecome something of a theatrical institution, not justin Britain, but worldwide. If the reports are to bebelieved, at virtually any given moment, a productionof Bouncers is being staged somewhere in the world,usually to great acclaim. Not bad for a man who, borninto a West Yorkshire mining family in 1956, chose toforego the family trade in favour of studying drama atuniversity and then becoming a drama teacher at hisold school. Indeed, it was through student drama thathe first made his name as a writer, but he was soonwriting full-length plays and contributing scripts to TVshows such as Crown Court, Brookside and GrangeHill among others. His major break as a playwrightcame in 1984 when he took over as Artistic Directorat the fledgling Hull Truck Theatre Company, a rolehe has served in ever since. Almost all of his mostfamous and successful plays have premiered at Hullwith Godber directing the first production.At Hull, Godber became famous for his unique styleof popular, accessible plays designed to attract thekind of audiences who might not ordinarily considergoing to the theatre. Plays like Up ’N’ Under with itsrugby league theme and Bouncers, set in the world ofseedy nightclubs, attracted a huge following. Godberhas gone on to write a number of plays based onpopular settings and themes, such as various sportsand pastimes. These include judo (Blood, Sweat andTears), skiing (On the Piste), wrestling (WrestlingMad), bowls (Crown Prince), caravanning (Perfect

John GodberBouncers (Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, 2006) Richard Brightiff, James Earl Adair, Steve Simmonds and Philip ReedPitch), health centres (Gym and Tonic), school andgrowing up (Reunion, Happy Families, It Started Witha Kiss), holidays and travel (April in Paris, Septemberin the Rain, Men of the World, Passion Killers), andwork (Teechers, The Office Party) among others.However the so-called themed plays are by nomeans Godber’s only choice of style. He has alsowritten a whole series of more thoughtful,contemplative works, focusing on humanrelationships and little-discussed aspects of life.September in the Rain is set in a mining community;April in Paris, which was nominated for the Comedyof the Year Award in 1994, features the experiencesof a working-class couple suddenly findingthemselves on holiday in suave, sophisticated Paris;while Our House (2001), an almost Chekhovianfable of memory and loss, was inspired by Godber’sexperience of moving his mum out of the councilhouse in which she had lived all her adult life. Hehas also never shied away from tackling seriousissues: Crown Prince is as much about globalwarming as bowls, while Sold is a dark anddisturbing look at sex trafficking.Apart from original plays, Godber has also turned hishand to adapting classic works for the stage,including A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist andDracula. In 2002, he even achieved the almostimpossible task of reducing Herman Melville’smonumental epic Moby Dick into 90 minutes ofentertaining theatre. And moving away from theatreagain, his later work for television has included: TheRitz (1986), The Continental (1987), My Kingdom fora Horse (1991), Chalkface (1991) and Bloomin’Marvellous (1997), while Up ’n’ Under was turned intoan entertaining movie in 1998. In 2002 he wroteThunder Road, an innovative digital television seriesfor the BBC set in Hull and he is currently working ona new series for ITV.John is married to actress and writer Jane Thornton.They have two daughters.Perfect Pitch (Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, 2001)Gareth Hale and Georgina FieldNick Hobbes© John Good

Seaside MemoriesA chat with John GodberDeckchair slumber at Blackpool, July 1939How did you come to write September in the Rain?I wrote it back in 1983 as a follow-up to another ofmy plays called Happy Jack, which I had written formy wife and my best friend to appear in. I wanted todevelop one little aspect of the characters’ lives andlook at that; I thought I’d look at one week of their lifeso that’s how I came to focus in on that one week inBlackpool. The title came about because it was thename of my mum’s favourite song, which wasoriginally recorded by Jo Stafford, I think.And is it true that the play is based on your ownparents’ experiences?Yes, basically I was writing a play about my parents,but I couldn’t say they were my parents because itwould have been a bit too close, so I pretended itwas my grandparents I was writing about. And it wasabout the holidays they had had in Blackpool andwhich I in fact myself had also had for many years. Ithink I went on holiday to Blackpool every year fromwhen I was nine months old until I was around 21.Always to Blackpool; we never went anywhere else.In fact, it’s rather strange that our family didn’t actuallygo to Bridlington or Scarborough, which would havebeen the most obvious place to go, and certainly thenearest. I’m from West Yorkshire, right in the middlenear Leeds, from the mining communities. But wewent to Blackpool instead of Bridlington orScarborough because my mother didn’t like the eastcoast, which is rather ironic since I now live there.I get the impression that going to Blackpool wasa popular choice around that time?Oh it was, yes, especially for people from miningbackgrounds, because there was not really any otheropportunity to go anywhere else. You could only goaway when there was a pit holiday and schoolholidays, and many families simply went off for aweek in Blackpool. I remember there was a holidayperiod every year called ‘Leger Week’, based aroundthe St Leger horse race at Doncaster in September,when it generally rains like anything in Blackpool, andthat’s when we would go!And lots of other people did as well, from other areasof the country. You got Glasgow week, for example,and lots of Scousers and Brummies also went there.Nowadays, sadly, Blackpool is trying to be LasVegas, but back then it was a terrific place to take thekids because you had lots and lots of sand. You justdidn’t get the weather that you get on the Costa delSol, that’s all.And did people really all do the same thing andfollow the same routines, every year?Oh yes, without question. They’d all go to the TowerBallroom and they’d go to the sands and they’d go onthe pier and so on. We always used to say, and I putthis line in the play, that when we got to Blackpool itwould start to rain and it would rain for three or fourdays and then on the way back the sun would comeout. That seemed to be the pattern; I’m sure it wasn’tlike that all the time, but that’s how it seemed.

Seaside MemoriesBlackpool Tower and seafrontDo you find that many audience members havesimilar memories and are affected by what theysee in the play?Yes, but then I think that’s what all drama is about,isn’t it? If you don’t connect with audiences, if peoplewatching the play don’t say, ‘That’s me!’ or ‘I know aman like that!’, then you end up falling quite wide ofthe target. I think it’s the same with any play that ifpeople come up and say ‘that’s how it was’, then youknow you’re doing something right. But yes, without adoubt, a certain generation of people have found theplay quite touching when they’ve seen it.Do you still go to Blackpool today?We have been to see the lights and do all that, butgenerally we tend to go elsewhere. It’s not really theplace it was anymore. I go to Bridlington quite a lot,because it’s just down the road from us and I also goto Scarborough quite often, especially to go to thetheatre there. But then you see, unlike my mum, Iactually like Scarborough and Brid a lot; I like theeast coast as a whole; I think it’s lovely and a muchunderused and underrated part of the country.You once acted in September in the Rainyourself, didn’t you?Yes, Jane and I appeared in the original run. But Ionly did it because my friend who was going to star init got another part and so wasn’t available. And whenI first joined Hull Truck, Jane and I toured the play forabout three months.How did you find that? You were, after all,effectively acting out your ownparents’/grandparents’ lives!Well, it was very therapeutic! We really enjoyed doingit, actually, and I feel we were able to bringsomething of our own relationship to the play,because it is, in the end, a play about how arelationship works and how you have to make it work,like two stones rubbing together and finding comfort.All writing is a form of therapy anyway, isn’t it?Working out how you fit into the world. I’ve writtenquite a lot of plays now, and with some I look backand realize that although I’ve moved on the playhasn’t; but I still thank God that I wrote that playbecause it helped me move on.Nick Hobbes© John Good

Wish youwere here…The traditional great British seaside holiday has longbeen something of a national institution. There canbe few Britons who don’t have nostalgic memories ofat least one seemingly endless summer fortnightspent enjoying the thrills and delights offered by oneof our seaside resorts.Even the introduction of package tourism to overseasresorts has not contrived to break the link betweenthe Brits and their beaches. Although the seasidebreak took a dip in popularity in the 1970s and1980s, the latest figures show that it is back, partlyhelped by the efforts of coastal areas who havespent enormous amounts of money cleaning up theirbeaches, modernising infrastructure, and creatingnew and enticing attractions.Holidays on prescriptionThe traditional English seaside holiday actuallybegan life not as a vacation or leisure pursuit but asa cure for unpleasant 18th century diseases. Doctorsat the time felt that sea bathing offered medicinalpossibilities, and would prescribe formal therapeuticbathing regimes for patients.Some researchers trace the origins of this practiceback as far as 1626, when a lady called Mrs Farrowfirst discovered a spring at Scarborough. The use ofspa waters for medicinal purposes had been aroundfor millennia - the Romans were big fans andestablished Aqua Sulis (modern-day Bath) for thispurpose. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take long for seabathing to be recommended as part of the therapeuticpackage. Not only bathing in, but also drinking,seawater was considered beneficial. Interestingly, thefirst bathers would have been nude, and both menand women would have bathed together.Blackpool, 1945: war-weary Britons tired of digging forvictory relax at the seaside and dig for fun insteadworkers (although statutory leave didn’t arrive untilthe 1938 Holidays With Pay Act, which allowed allindustrial workers at least one week’s annual paidleave). The huge increase in visitors spurred seasidetowns to build better and more attractive facilities withall manner of attractions, from fun fairs and lidos(open-air swimming pools) to what-the-butler-sawmachines and high-quality entertainment on the pier.Hotels, guest houses, B&Bs and other types ofboarding houses sprang up in huge numbers. Inmany seaside towns some streets contained nothingbut boarding houses.The beach boomIt was the upper classes that first started enjoying thedelights of the beach holiday. The less wealthy andleisured had to wait until the late 19th century, whichsaw the introduction of bank holidays and theestablishment of extended railway networks, to gettheir turn on the sands. Some towns welcomed theextra visitors as good for business; some, such asBournemouth, tried to prevent the hoi polloi fromarriving en masse, as they thought it would scareaway the wealthy upper-class invalids who regularlycame there.By the turn of the century, longer family trips to theseaside became increasingly common as tradeunions negotiated paid and unpaid holidays forThe best of British: Morecambe and Wise sample the local fare atBlackpool Beach, 1953

Living by the seaAdvances in computer-based communication, flexibleworking arrangements and more business contactwith Europe have made living on the coast and eithercommuting to work in the city or travelling to townonly when necessary far more feasible. All of whichhas introduced a degree of metropolitan sophisticationto some previously traditional seaside towns; Brightonis probably the best example of this phenomenon.The seaside experienceThere is nothing quite like a British seaside holiday.While the tanned, rippling bodies on Bondi or MiamiBeach luxuriate in glorious sunshine showing off theirperfectly toned anatomies, sipping piña coladas andfrolicking about on expensive yachts in busy marinas,we build sandcastles, watch one wooden puppetbashing the living daylights out of another, andcontrive to lose all our spare change into slot andarcade machines.While the denizens of the Bahamas and the Balearicssaunter across idyllic sun-drenched sands, picking uppure, bleached conch shells and resting beneathshady palms, we shiver behind windbreaks, getnipped by shore crabs in effluent-ridden rock poolsand bury grandma in the sand.In California, hulking he-men and beautiful babescruise the seafronts in hot sports convertibles, quadbikes and Rollerblades, while we have donkey rides,the occasional tram and, of course, traffic jams.In the Caribbean or the Spanish Costas, people relaxby sipping rum, eating freshly-caught seafood,listening to twinkling guitars or lilting steel pans, andcasting an approving eye over the local señoritas; wetraditionally cram into unventilated social clubs towatch third-rate comedians and cabaret turns, or facehumiliation in knobbly knees contests or karaokestand-offs, under the disinterested eyes of sadisticredcoats. Put it another way, when the Americansdecided to take their beach experience and turn itinto television series, the result was Baywatch, asexy, sassy, primetime TV show that was shown inmore countries worldwide than almost anything elsein the history of television. When we tried it here whatdid we get? Hi-De-Hi!And yet despite all these obvious detractions and theease by which all the best beaches of the world cannow be reached - plane tickets can now cost lessthan buying a round - and the cornucopia of holidayalternatives that the global village has placed at ourdisposal, somehow for us Brits the traditional seasideexperience is still a seemingly irresistible draw. Sure,many seaside towns have worked hard to update theirattractions and offer more modern, trendy alternativesto holidaymakers, but go to any British beach on asummer’s day and the chances are that all thetraditional paraphernalia will be there: the bucket andspade, beach balls, windbreaks and, of course, thedeckchair.Nick Hobbes© John GoodSeaside trivia• More than 250 million portions of fish andchips are eaten in Britain every year,which works out at 4.23 portions per headof the population. However Blackpoolconsumes more chips per capita thananywhere else on the planet - munchingthrough over 40 acres of potatoes a day!• Deckchairs were first introduced on P&Oliners in the 1880s. Before their arrival onbeach piers at the end of the 19th century,people would pay a penny to sit onwooden benches.• When Blackpool Tower was opened onWhit Sunday, May 14th in 1894, admissionwas a mere sixpence, compared to today’sprice of up to £17.• The escapologist Karl Bartoni and hisfiancée were married while suspended in acage from the Blackpool Tower in 1982.• The Tower itself takes seven years topaint from top to bottom and over tenthousand light bulbs are used toilluminate it.• Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach is thecontinent’s second most popular touristattraction and it boasts the largestconcentration of rollercoasters in Europe.The 6.5 million people that visit theattraction annually are exceeded in numberonly by the amount going to the Vatican.Wish you were here...

CastLizClaire StoreyJackShaun Hennessyby JohnArtisticCreditsDirectorMatt DevittSet DesignerChristine BradnumCostume DesignerAimee EasterLightingAndy LewisVoice CoachRichard RyderThanks toKirwin and SimpsonGreenhouse Water GardensDave Godin Lighting and SoundJack and Christine Wright for vintagecardigan and original plastic headscarfThere will be one interFirst performed at the HuSEPTEMBER IN THE RACopyright agent: Alan BrFairgate House 78 New Oxfowww.alanb

ProductionCreditsProduction ManagerDave GodinTechnical ManagerKen TelfordGodberStage ManagerLaura CollinsDeputy Stage Manager on the BookEvie DeightonAssistant Stage ManagersIan GrigsonNicola RedfernLighting OperatorAlex BroadSound OperatorChris HowcroftImage ProjectionsKen TelfordCostumes byQueen’s TheatreWardrobe DepartmentWardrobe SupervisorAimee EasterSet Constructed byQueen’s Theatre WorkshopWorkshop SupervisorJohn AyersHead of Scenic ArtChristine BradnumCover DesignEnd Associatesval of twenty minutesll Truck Theatre in 1984IN © 1989 John Godberodie Representation Ltdd Street London WC1A 1HBrodie.comProgramme DesignJohn GoodProduction PhotographyNobby Clark

Claire StoreyLizShaun HennessyJackAt the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch: Olivia in TwelfthNight, Sheila in Relatively Speaking.West End: Buddy (Strand Theatre); Elvis – the Musical(Piccadilly Theatre).Theatre: Queenie/Maureen in Honk!, Bagheera in JungleBook (Watermill, Newbury); Muriel in Animal Farm (PeterHall Company); Carol in Girls Night (GoodnightsEntertainment); Lily the Nun in Blonde Bombshells of 1943(Octagon/Hampstead Theatre); Luciana in The Comedy ofErrors, The Clown in Sweet William (NorthernBroadsides/tour); Dee Dee Butterfly in Pinafore Swing(Watermill Theatre/tour); Lily the Nun in Blonde Bombshellsof 1943 (West Yorkshire Playhouse); Toots the Goose inMother Goose (Liverpool Everyman); Lisa in Girls Night(Goodnights Entertainment/tour); Aunt Santiago in Buddy(UK tour); Fran in The Animals (Stratford Circus/tour);Janis Joplin in Get It While You Can (London One PersonPlay Festival); Mrs Peer/Swing in Patsy Cline – the Musical(national tour); Stella in Three Steps to Heaven (nationaltour); Performer in Comedy Brothel (Etcetera Theatre);Ensemble in Peer Gynt (Thelma Holt Co/RSC).TV and film: Emmerdale (Yorkshire), Hollyoaks (MerseyTV), Doctors (BBC).At the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch: September in theRain is Shaun’s debut appearance at the Queen’s.West End: Includes Lt Brannigan in Guys and Dolls(ATG/Donmar Warehouse, number one tour).Theatre: Includes Gibson and the Pub Comedian in RoughMusic (Stars and Angels/Kings Head); The Miller inCanterbury Tales, Landscape of the Body (SouthwarkPlayhouse); title role in The Comedian, Gigolo, I Dreamt IDwelt in Marble Halls (Watermill Theatre); Capulet inRomeo and Juliet (Creation Theatre); Winter Warmers(Age Exchange); Popcorn (Catford Broadway); King Rat inDick Whittington (Wish Limited); Bill and Ted’s ExcellentMusical Adventure, A Life in the Daze of Stanley Bishops(Edinburgh Festival); Abigail’s Party, Penetrator (BrockleyJack Theatre); Macbeth, Twelfth Night, Romeo and Julietand A Midsummer Night’s Dream (English ShakespeareCompany).TV and film: Includes Dalziel and Pascoe, Henderson inNorth and South (BBC); Ticket Too Far (Chimera Pictures);Reverb (Shakhouse Films); The Bear (Beholding Eye);Man With a Fork (El Barone Productions); Fab Four(Tedious Productions); Appleseed Lake (? Films/Kicked bya Mule).Training: Shaun trained at Bretton Hall.

Matt DevittDirectorAt the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch:Matt is Associate Director at the Queen’sand has recently directed RelativelySpeaking, Dick Barton – Special Agent,Corpse!, From a Jack to a King, A Sliceof Saturday Night, Neville’s Island, Jackand the Beanstalk, Bouncers, Room atthe Top, Two, Curses!, Who’s Afraid ofVirginia Woolf?, Pump Boys andDinettes, Aladdin, A View From theBridge, Private Lives, Educating Rita,Sleuth and The Lost World.As a member of cut to the chase… Matthas appeared at the Queen’s as LionelBart in It’s a Fine Life!, the Landlord inTwo, Dromio of Ephesus in The Comedyof Errors, Nurse in Romeo and Juliet,Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream,Al in April in Paris, Daffyd ap Llewellyn inA Chorus of Disapproval and WidowTwankey in Aladdin.Theatre: After taking a degree inperforming arts at Middlesex Polytechnicand a brief career at the MOD (don’task), Matt was given his first job by BobCarlton at the Bubble Theatre. Duringtwo seasons and many shows hecreated the role of Cookie in the originalproduction of Return to the ForbiddenPlanet and Eric Glamis in the originalFrom a Jack to a King and recentlyplayed Dromio of Ephesus in TheComedy of Errors for Ludlow Festival.West End: Cookie in Return to theForbidden Planet for which he receivedan Olivier Award nomination for MostOutstanding Performance in a Musical.Matt directed and starred in the WestEnd run of From a Jack to a King andwas Production Director for Hedwig andthe Angry Inch (Playhouse).Matt has supported West Ham since1964 and continues to wonder why.Christine BradnumSet DesignerAt the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch:Christine is Head of Scenic Art at theQueen’s. She has also designedRelatively Speaking, Who’s Afraid ofVirginia Woolf? and the 2006 CommunityPlay Off to Oz.Training: Christine trained in TheatreDesign at Croydon College.Theatre: After graduating she held theposition of resident designer at thePalace Theatre, Westcliff for three and ahalf years. There she designed adiversity of shows from Agatha Christiesto farce to community plays, includingTwelve Angry Men, A PassionateWoman, Lend Me a Tenor and PeterPan. She has since worked freelance asa designer on Don Juan on Trial(Mercury Theatre, Colchester); Toadof Toad Hall (New Empire, Southend);Stand by Your Man (national tour);Laura (Palace Theatre, Westcliff);Much Ado About Nothing and TheImportance of Being Earnest (LittleTheatre, Leicester).Aimee EasterCostume DesignerAt the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch:Aimee has been Wardrobe Supervisor atthe Queen’s for four years and overseescostume production for all Main Houseshows. September in the Rain is her firstcostume design for a show in theTheatre’s main producing season. Shehas also designed costumes for fourNew Writers Showcases and Off to Oz.Theatre: Aimee has worked withwardrobe teams producing costumes fornumerous West End shows including LaCava, Phantom of the Opera and LesMiserables. She has also worked at TheRoyal Opera House, The Sydney OperaHouse and the Sydney TheatreCompany. Her film work includes StarWars III: Return of the Sith.Andy LewisLightingThis is Andy’s first lighting design for theQueen’s Theatre.He started at the Queen’s over two anda half years ago as a technician, workingon all main house productions in thelighting, sound and stage capacity.Prior to his time here, Andy, originally ofPembrokeshire, West Wales, spent fouryears as a technical manager in SouthWales, having completed a degree inTheatre Design and Production at TrinityCollege, Carmarthen.Richard RyderVoice CoachRichard Ryder is Assistant Head ofVoice at East 15 Acting School andresident voice coach for CreationTheatre’s outdoor Shakespeareproductions in Oxford. His other recenttheatre work includes the West YorkshirePlayhouse and the Teatro San Gallo inVenice. He also works with corporateand international clients for presentationand voice use in business.John GodberPlaywrightTheatre: John’s theatre credits includeBouncers; Up ‘N’ Under; April in Paris,Teechers; Blood, Sweat and Tears;Cramp; Happy Jack; September in theRain; Salt of the Earth; Passion Killers;Happy Families; Up ‘N’ Under ll; Gymand Tonic; Dracula; Lucky Sods; Hoorayfor Hollywood; Weekend Breaks; ItStarted With a Kiss; Unleashed; Thick Asa Brick; Big Trouble in the LittleBedroom; Season in the Sun; On a NightLike This; Our House; Departures; Menof the World; Reunion; Screaming BlueMurder; Black Ties and Tales; PerfectPitch; Going Dutch; Christmas Crackers;Crown Prince; Wrestling Mad; Sold.who’s whoTraining: Aimee graduated from theLondon College of Fashion with a degreein Costume.Film: John’s film credits include MyKingdom for a Horse and Up ‘N’ Under.Television: His television credits includeChalkface and Odd Squad.

Septemberin the Rainin rehearsal

educationnewsand outreachHarold Hill comes alive with the sound of music!The best of local acting talent filled the Queen’s Theatrestage in the Community Play 2008.Over 50 members of the local community sang and danced theirhearts out in Harry from the Hill, written by Queen’s Theatre NewWriting Award winner Kath Sayer, between 30 July and 2 August.The play celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Harold Hill estateby combining its post-war history with the touching tale of anadopted boy, Harry, in search of his birth mother.Harry, played by the talented Jacob Portsmouth, is the adoptedson of wealthy Primrose Hill couple Deidre (Wendi Sheard) andPeter (Barry Kirk). But one day, he seeks out his real mum Lisa(Susan Purkiss), who lives in Harold Hill.By meeting his new family, Harry not only learns more abouthimself and what he wants in life but also his birthplace. HaroldHill’s social and political history – from its original purpose tohouse East End slum dwellers to the community’s skiffle bands -is cleverly told using a fancy dress barbecue celebrating theestate’s 60th anniversary.Polished dance routines and catchy music, written by theQueen’s Musical Director Carol Sloman, added to the magic ofthe production.Directed by award-winning actress and director Marcia Carr, thecast and the Queen’s professional artistic and production teamrehearsed hard for three months to ensure the show would be aresounding success.The production also gained critical acclaim from local reviewers.Mary Redman, of the Havering Gazette, said: “Kath Sayer hasdone a good job, posing questions and coming up with aninteresting look at net curtain society and a more open one.”Graham Whitmore, of the Barking and Dagenham Post, added:“The Community Players dug deep into the reservoirs of theirparticular talents to provide fine entertainment.”Summer School fun at the Queen’sPoetry, lipstick and a dodgy doctor were all part of the funin a series of Summer School workshops for youngstersat the Queen’s Theatre.Budding actors, from seven-year-olds to teenagers, took part inthe Mini Summer School and Page to Stage workshops. Bothweek-long courses, held earlier this month, culminated inshowcases of work in the foyer.Mini Summer School was themed on the fascinating subject ofchildren’s dreams, and headed by Marcia Carr, pupils played anarray of colourful games and learned to recite poetry, designcolourful costumes and apply theatrical make-up.Page to Stage, led by the Queen’s new Education ManagerPatrick O’Sullivan, was based on Christopher Marlowe’sintriguing tale Dr Faustus, about a man who sells his soul to thedevil. Using physical and vocal theatrical techniques, Patrickguided students through a modern interpretation of the 17thcentury play.He said: “The Summer Workshops really give children somethingcreative and constructive to do during the holiday season right hereon their doorstep. It also helps develop their theatrical skills andprovide opportunities for social interaction and confidence-building.”photos: Richard WalkerPeggy Bennett, Amelia Dunnand Lesley DunnWendi Sheard,Jacob Portsmouthand Susan PurkissYoungsters having fun at the Mini Summer SchoolFor more information on all Education and Outreach activities at the Queen’s,visit www.queens-theatre.co.uk/educationeducation and outreach news box office 01708 443333

newsqueen’stheatreIntergalactic 10th birthday partyfor cut to the chase…Sarah Beaumont, James Earl Adair and Ian CunninghamSpace travel and sumptuous bubbly marked the 10thbirthday of the Queen’s Theatre’s professional companyat a glittering Charity Gala Concert.cut to the chase…, the UK’s only resident ensemble of actormusicians,was set up in 1998 by the Queen’s Artistic Director BobCarlton. To mark the anniversary, cut to the chase… gave afundraising concert performance of Return to the Forbidden Planet– the company’s biggest and most popular show.The audience toasted cut to the chase… at a glamorouschampagne reception before the rock concert performance took tothe stage. The musical, which was created by Bob Carlton, is setin outer-space and based on Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Planethas been performed all over the world - from the Queen’s Theatreand West End to Australia and Japan, collecting an Olivier Awardfor Best Musical.A 37-strong cut to the chase… cast starred in this unique reunionof past and present members. The show raised an astounding£15,000 and all proceeds have been ploughed into the Queen’sTheatre Development Fund, which finances the Theatre’s valuablework throughout the region.Bob said: “The concert was a really special way of celebrating thecompany’s 10th birthday as old and new members were able tomeet. It was also a golden opportunity for Planet fans to catch theirfavourite musical since its creation 25 years ago.“As a registered charity, the Queen’s relies on fundraising eventsand extra support to help fund our wide-ranging programme ofentertainment and activities, so being able to raise these muchneeded funds was an amazing achievement.“I set up cut to the chase… because I had a vision of a professionaltheatre ensemble at the heart of the community and I’m really proudof our success so far. Here’s to our next 10 years!”Queen’s Theatre Open DayEver wondered what goes on backstage at the Queen’s?Well, you can find out at the Queen’s Theatre Open Day on Saturday 20 September.As part of the London Open House event, the Queen’s will be throwing open its doors to give you a peek behind the scenes with freebackstage tours at 10am, 11am, 12noon and 1pm. You can find out exactly what goes into creating professional theatre!There will also be tours for children aged between 5-8 at 10am and 12noon, filled with plenty of games and activities.Book in advance at the Box Office on 01708 443333

Natalia struts her stuffThe Candy StreetDance TroupeBraving grey skies, hundreds of revellers flocked to theQueen’s Theatre Green to enjoy a host of colourfulattractions at the Queen’s Summer Family Fun Day.Havering Mayor Cllr John Clark opened the event, held onSaturday 2 August and compered by Time FM Drive Timepresenter Neil Andrews.A huge variety of music rung out from the stage in the centre ofthe Green – acts included pop starlet Natalia, indie-rock duo TheRileys and singing group Dawn Chorus.Youngsters enjoyed a Punch and Judy show, trampolines, balloonmodelling,a magic display, fair rides, face-painting and Circus SkillsFamily Fun DayWorkshops, led by the Rhythm and Balls Juggling Club.Other attractions included free beauty treatments and massages,henna tattoos and craft stalls. Hornchurch Nando’s sold burgers,donating all profits to the Queen’s; and Pips Smoothies, ofStation Lane, Upminster shared profits between the Theatre andBreast Cancer Care.Queen’s Theatre Administrative Director Thom Stanbury said:“Entertainment lasts all year round at the Queen’s and the eventreally brought our community together to enjoy a variety ofwholesome fun. It was a brilliant opportunity for the public to learnabout all the work we do.”Queen’s Theatre House Manager treads theboards in LiverpoolSmiles and struggles of shipping labourers were exploredby Queen’s Theatre writer Dave Ross as part of a showcelebrating the UK’s docklands.Dave delivered a self-penned monologue titled A Loada Jack nDanny at the famous Liverpool Everyman Theatre in July as partof a series of performances of new writing themed on docklandsaround the country.He was one of only nine writers from Liverpool, Newcastle andLondon selected for the Docks Project, which was coordinatedjointly by the BBC and Paines Plough, a theatre companyspecialising in new writing.Dave, House Manager at the Queen’s, has worked at the Theatrefor about 25 years and it was his prolific writing career thatcaught the eye of organisers. He has co-written eight CommunityPlays, including The Good Intent, which was later turned into aMain House show. His musical version of A Tale of Two Citieswent on to tour internationally.A Loada Jack n Danny is a touching work drawing from Dave’smemories of his first week working in London’s Docklands in1966, which coincided with his grandfather’s last week there.A stilt walker from theRhythm and BallsJuggling ClubDave RossAlexander Wiles, 4,is a tiger forthe daySpeaking about his evening on the boards, Dave laughed: “I wasterrified at first, but I came through it. And like all challengingexperiences, it was fantastic and I felt really pleased with myselfafterwards.”And the 63-year-old grandfather-of-four is a long way offfrom retiring.“I haven’t even started yet,” he beamed. “I’m looking out for thenext thing!”queen’s theatre news box office 01708 443333

A fun-packed, family pantomime for all ages!by Nicholas Peggmusic and lyrics by Carol Slomandirector Bob Carltondesigner Mark Waltersmusical director Carol Slomanlighting Matt Eaglandsound Ed Clarke29 November – 10 Januarybox office 01708 443333www.queens-theatre.co.uk

accessPNEWparkingThere are three parking spaces reserved for blue badgeholders at the front of the building.wheelchair usersThe Queen’s Theatre is wheelchair accessible. Fourwheelchair positions are available for every performance,so you are advised to book early. A ramp gives accessto the building from street level.deaf and hearing-impaired patronsbox office – turn your hearing aid to the “T” position touse the induction loop.auditorium – there is an infra-red transmission systemwhich can help people with or without hearing aids. Alightweight, discreet headset or necklace is needed andis available from the Box Office.sign language interpreted performancesSeptember in the RainWed 10 Sep | 8pmHay FeverWed 15 Oct | 8pmThe Mummy’s TombWed 19 Nov | 8pmDick WhittingtonWed 10 Dec | 6.30pmThur 8 Jan | 6.30pmcaptioned performancesSubtitles of all dialogue and song lyrics are shown onscreens either side of the stage to assist people with anydegree of hearing loss. For further information visitwww.queens-theatre.co.uk/access or call the box officeon 01708 443333. Captioning is a free service to allticket holders at that performance.You do not have to sit in specific seats to use thisservice, or inform Box Office that you intend to use theservice. Please ask if you want advice on the best viewof the captioning screens.September in the RainSat 13 Sep | 2.30pmHay FeverSat 11 Oct | 2.30pmThe Mummy’s TombSat 22 Nov | 2.30pmDick WhittingtonThur 8 Jan | 2pmblind and visually-impaired patronsGuide and assistance dogs are welcome throughoutthe building.Audio Description uses an infra-red transmission systemand discreet headset, which should be booked inadvance at the Box Office.audio described performancesSeptember in the RainSat 13 Sep | 2.30pmHay FeverSat 11 Oct | 2.30pmThe Mummy’s TombSat 22 Nov | 2.30pmDick WhittingtonThur 8 Jan | 2pmLarge print and audio copies of the seasonbrochure are available from the box officeFor Information contact James McCully,Access and Marketing OfficerTel: 01708 462376Fax: 01708 462363E-mail: james@queens-theatre.co.ukPost: Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1QTor visit: www.queens-theatre.co.uk/accessjoin thequeen’stheatre clubsupport your local theatreand enjoy many benefits…P Half price tickets on Club Nights with abuffet party and the chance to meet thecastP Monthly newslettersP Monthly meetings with guest speakersP Social activities including coach outings,regional theatre visits, the annual dinnerdance, quiz nights, barn dance and theQueen’s Anniversary Night Party.Membership:1 January – 31 DecemberChairman:Mrs Angela Warmsley, 47 Elm Avenue,Upminster RM14 2AZ.Tel: 01708 225232Membership Secretary:Mr Alan Garrood, 8 Nyth Close,Upminster RM14 1RB. Tel: 01708 225978Join ourfree e-mailor mailing listBe the first to receivenews and special offersfor forthcomingQueen’s Theatre productions.Contact the Box Office on01708 443333 or e-mailebulletin@queens-theatre.co.ukaccess www.queens-theatre.co.uk

corporate supportersInner Circle MembersBartercard Essexwww.uk.bartercard.comRomford Greyhound StadiumCoral Romford Greyhound Stadium, London RoadRomford, Essex RM7 9DUt: 01708 762345 f: 01708 436529romford.stadium@coral.co.ukwww.romfordgreyhoundstadium.co.ukThe Mall, RomfordMall Management, Mercury Gardens,RomfordRM1 3EEt: 01708 733 620 f: 01708 737 823www.themall.co.ukHavering Chamber of Commerce & IndustryHCCI Suite 2, 3rd Floor, Rainham HouseManor Way, Rainham RM13 8RHt: 0845 270 3332 f: 0845 273 2229hcci@haveringbep.co.uk www.hcci.org.ukMolly’s Florist15 Billet Lane, Hornchurch, Essex RM11 1TSt: 01708 456006/445635 f: 01708 437987info@mollysflorist.co.ukwww.mollysflorist.co.ukHavering Homes2nd Floor Stirling House, 21-25 Station LaneHornchurch, Essex RM12 6JLt: 0800 2300042www.haveringhomes.co.ukUtilize plc, Scottish Mutual House, 27-29 North StreetHornchurch, Essex RM11 1RSt: 0845 366 6079 f: 0845 366 6067info@utilize.co.uk www.utilize.co.ukBusiness Circle MembersBalloons by WonderlandThe BreweryConcept Windows and ConservatoriesHavering College of Further and Higher EducationMotivation ClinicsThe Cranleigh RestaurantThe LibertyVenture PhotographicTo find out how your company can benefit from the Business Circle call 01708 462349or visit queens-theatre.co.uk/business

e a supporting act!The Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch is a registeredcharity that is only able to enjoy success as aninspirational and renowned arts venue due to theloyal generosity of individuals, fundingorganisations and local businesses.Our ticket prices are consistently among the lowestin London and Essex, and the Queen’s subsidisesthe cost of workshop places for children and adultsto participate in learning through the arts.In order for the Queen’s to continue its vision ofaffordable, high quality theatre and entertainmentfor everyone, we constantly need to raise funds.The Queen’s fundraising activities are focused onproviding opportunities for the development oftheatre practitioners, audiences and staff.The Queen’s is currentlyfundraising for:• Keeping our ticket prices amongst the lowest in London andEssex and continuing to offer subsidised ticket schemessuch as Jump the Q and Quids In.• Launching education programmes for children and adults inschools and community centres to encourage learningthrough the arts.• Commissioning more productions and festivals that supportnew writing with a particular focus on writing for actormusiciansand encouraging diverse audiences toexperience the Queen’s.• Ensuring the Queen’s building can continue to host exciting,popular theatre and welcome visitors with special accessrequirements.• Professional development for actor-musicians.THEANTI-GRAFFITICO. LTDSpecialists in Preventionand Removal of Graffitiand Mould ProblemsThe Anti-Graffiti Company are delighted to continuesponsoring the Queen’s. We hope everyone will enjoythe theatre even more as the Anti-Graffiti Companyreturn the outer stonework and surfaces to their originalstate and protect them from further damage.Tel: 01708 225432Fax: 01708 229214e-mail: anti-graffiticoltd@tesco.netwww.theantigraffiticompany.co.uka few ways you can help…make a donationIf you like what you see at the Queen’s, why not make adonation to help us to continue and develop our work. Furthermore, if you are a UK taxpayer and Gift Aid your donation, wecan claim back from the Treasury 28 pence for every £1 thatyou donate!Call 01708 462349 to make a donation.help fundraise for the queen’s for free justby searching the Interneteveryclick.com is an internet search engine with a bigdifference - it donates half its revenue to charity. If you useeveryclick.com as your search engine every search you dowill raise money for the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch.Please go to everyclick.com/uk/haveringtheatretrust to do allyour searching. Don’t forget to add it to your favourites so youcan find it again easily. You can make it your home page byclicking on the link in the top right hand corner of the site. Itdoes not cost us, or you, a penny - so please use it - andpass the message on!See our website for new ways to help fundraise for theQueen’s Theatre - www.queens-theatre.co.uk/supportusleave a lasting legacyRemembering your Queen’s Theatre in your will or by makinga memorial donation, means that your name and generositywill continue to go on, giving future generations the chanceto experience, benefit and enjoy our work for many yearsto come.For more information on how you can leave your legacy, call01708 462349.FundingThe Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch receivesstatutory funding from the London Borough ofHavering, Arts Council England, London andLondon Councils.The Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch is also supported by thefollowing Trusts and Foundations: The Jack PetcheyFoundation, The Peggy Ramsay Foundation, The StraussCharitable Trust, The Ronald Duncan Literary Foundation,The Garfield Weston Foundation.be a supporting act www.queens-theatre.co.uk

“A spectacular success”The Guardianthe queen’s theatre hornchurchThe original Queen’s Theatre, in Station Lane, Hornchurch, was opened by Sir Ralph Richardson in1953. From the beginning, the theatre ran a repertory company called the Queen’s Players. In 1975 theQueen’s Theatre moved into a purpose-built venue in Billet Lane which was opened by Sir Peter Hall.The Queen’s Theatre is a vibrant producing theatreserving the London Borough of Havering, outer EastLondon and Essex. Each year the Queen’s Theatrewelcomes over 250,000 people.In 1998 Artistic Director Bob Carlton formed cut to thechase…, the country’s only resident company of actormusicians.Working with the repertory company and a corecreative team of designers and directors, the Queen’s Theatreproduces eight main house productions a year, offering adiverse programme of popular, innovative and quality theatreat affordable prices.This is complemented by over 40 guest concerts, five danceperformances, 30 children’s shows, weekly Sunday lunchtimejazz, a monthly comedy club, art exhibitions and Unplugged –a monthly showcase for young musicians.PHOTOGRAPHY: NOBBY CLARKThe Queen’s delivers a thriving Education and Outreachprogramme for schools, young people, community groups andindividuals of all ages. Each year the Queen’s Theatreproduces four Theatre-in-Education tours to schoolsthroughout East London and Essex. Other activities includethe Community Company, two writers’ groups, six youththeatre and dance groups and over 100 workshops andbackstage tours.Registered Charity No. 248680

Contact InformationThe Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane,Hornchurch RM11 1QTBox Office: 01708 443333Administration: 01708 462362Fax: 01708 462363e-mail: info@queens-theatre.co.ukArtistic Director: Bob CarltonAdministrative Director: Thom StanburyFinance Director: Margaret SmithAdministrationAdministrative Director: Thom StanburyAdministrator: Katie MiltonAdministrative Assistants: Irene Chapman, Cathy Treweek,Sue WelchArtisticArtistic Director: Bob CarltonAssociate Director: Matt DevittHead of Design: Mark WaltersAssociate Designer: Rodney FordHead of Music: Carol SlomanMusic Consultant: Julian LittmanLighting Consultant: Chris JaegerSound Consultant: WhizzLiterary Associate: David Eldridge, Paul MillerBox Office 01708 443333Box Office Manager: Jan SullivanDeputy Box Office Manager: Julia JonesBox Office Assistants: Jenefer Boddington, June Hutley,Pauline Kliber, Frances Wright.Development 01708 462349Development Manager: Daryl Smithqueen’s theatre staffEducation and Outreach 01708 462373Education and Outreach Manager: Patrick O’SullivanEducation and Outreach Officers: Claire Bailey,Elizabeth Keeble-WatsonEducation and Outreach Assistant: Sheena NolanFinanceFinance Director: Margaret SmithFinance Officer: Elaine DarranAssistant Finance Officer: Marina AustinFront of HouseHouse Managers: John Kliber, Dave RossAssistant House Manager: Lee CollinsBar and Catering Manager: Maureen RaddonAssistant Bar & Catering Manager: Karl DyerSenior Steward: Pat BranchFront of House Assistants: Grace Coppin,Dean Coulson, Vicki Flack, Christine Foster, Pat Harper,Sarah Hawes, Paul Lewin, Kim Martin, Amy McCabe, CarolynMcCabe, Ellie McCabe, Dinah Nunn, Gillian Rider, Gill Rothon,Ben Russell, Emma Shearmur, Angela Short,Marion Thornett, Maureen WilsonCleaners: Linda Smith, Elaine Boore, Barbra Cole,Cheryll MorrisFire Officers: John Allen, Christopher CookMarketingMarketing Manager: Chris O’KellyAccess & Marketing Officer: James McCullyPress Officer: Nadiah Scammell 01708 462395Marketing Officer: Sarah LubbockMarketing Assistant: Sheena NolanProductionProduction Manager: Dave GodinScenic ArtHead of Scenic Art: Christine BradnumScenic Artist: Rory DavisStage ManagementStage Manager: Laura CollinsDeputy Stage Manager: Evie DeightonAssistant Stage Managers: Ian Grigson, Nicola RedfernTechnicalTechnical Manager: Ken TelfordSenior Technician: Paul StoneTechnicians: Alex Broad, Jo Golding, Christopher Howcroft,Andrew Lewis, James MorganCasual Technicians: James Mitchell, Richard WilliamsWardrobeWardrobe Supervisor: Aimee EasterWardrobe Assistants: Sarah Holland, Vicki SmithWorkshopWorkshop Supervisor: John AyersCarpenters: Marc Lawrence, Chris YoungVolunteersVolunteer Co-ordinator: Anne BalaamArchivists: John Jones, Sandra Murry, Ann Chan-PensleyMarketing: With thanks to volunteers from the Queen’sTheatre ClubCouncil of Management for Havering Theatre TrustCllr Wendy Brice-Thompson, David Burn (Vice Chair),Cllr Andrew Curtin, Cllr Gillian Ford, Cllr Linda Hawthorn,Vernon Keeble-Watson, David Lel, Angela Marshall,Cllr Ray Morgon, Michael Quine, Cllr Roger Ramsey,Dennis Roycroft (Chair), Louise Sinclair, Brian Savery,Cllr Geoff Starns, David Thorpe, Pamela WilkesFirst AidFirst Aid volunteers and facilities are provided by theSt John Ambulance BrigadeThe management reserves the right to refuse admission, and to make any alterations in the cast which may be rendered necessary by illness or other unavoidable causes.In accordance with the requirement of the London Borough of Havering: The public may leave at the end of the performance or entertainment by all exit doors andsuch doors must at that time be kept entirely free from obstruction, whether permanent or temporary. Persons shall not be permitted to stand or sit in any of the gangwayswithin the auditorium.PATRONS ARE RESPECTFULLY REMINDED THE QUEEN’S THEATRE, HORNCHURCH IS A NO SMOKING BUILDING AND THAT THE USE OF CAMERAS ANDRECORDING EQUIPMENT IS NOT PERMITTED DURING PERFORMANCES. Latecomers may not be admitted until a suitable break in the performance.staff www.queens-theatre.co.uk

Paul TonkinsonMichael FabbriJohn GordilloCarl DonnellyThurs 25 Sep | 8.30pm | £10 | £9.50 concCarl DonnellyPaul TonkinsonDaniel TownsRich Mortoncomedy club in the foyerSide-splitting stand-up every month with a top line-up of thebest acts on the comedy circuit.Thurs 30 Oct | 8.30pm | £10 | £9.50 concRich MortonMichael FabbriJack WhitehallActs contain adult languageJack WhitehallFor more information visit www.queens-theatre.co.uk/comedyBook early or miss out!Carey MarxThurs 27 Nov | 8.30pm | £10 | £9.50 concJohn GordilloCarey MarxTiernan Douiebenjoy arelaxing meal, a light snackor a drink in the loungeany time of the dayHome cooked daily specials and hot breakfasts | Freshly made baguettes, panini and ciabattasJacket potatoes with a wide range of fillings | Large selection of desserts, cakes and pastriesFreshly ground coffee, cappuccino and espresso | Fully stocked bar of wines and spiritsIf you are coming to the Queen’s to eat before a show, or at lunchtime, save time and pre-order your meal.Visit www.queens-theatre.co.uk to see the menu. To order – contact Maureen or Karl on 01708 462379.Open all day - so whether you are visiting the Queen’s to see a show or not, take some time out inthe unique surroundings of the Queen’s Theatre Foyer.open from 10am monday to saturday

22 August - 13 September - The Queen's Theatre

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