50th Anniversary Celebration Evening |
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Ken Livingstone was invited as guest of honour for the evening by John Cryer, MP for Hornchurch, who was also present. Following the performance, the Queen’s Theatre Artistic Director Bob Carlton, John Cryer MP and Ken Livingstone took to the Queen’s Theatre stage for speeches. Describing the difficulties faced over the years by professional producing theatres, such as the Queen’s, John Cryer MP for Hornchurch said, “the Queen’s Theatre hasn’t survived by pure luck, but by pure hard work… and it has survived to become one of the most successful theatres of its kind in the country. I look forward to the Queen’s being here in 50 years time, demonstrating that quality and popular theatre are not mutually exclusive.”
Other guests included: Cllr Edward Cahill and Mrs Lucy Cahill, Mayor and Mayoress of Havering; Cllr Shirley Howe, Mayor of Brentwood; Cllr Susan Perry, Mayor of Epping Forest; Cllr Gerard Rice and Mrs Barbara Rice, Mayor and Mayoress of Thurrock; Cllr Bob Belam and Mrs Wenda Belam, Mayor and Mayoress of Waltham Forest and Cllr Sukhdev Marway and Satnam Marway, representing the Mayor of Newham. Stephen Evans, Acting Chief Executive, London Borough of Havering; Eric Munday, Leader of the Council, London Borough of Havering; Cllr Andrew Curtin, Lead Member for Culture, London Borough of Havering; Roger Evans, GLA Representative for Havering and Redbridge; and Angela Watkinson, MP for Upminster. They were joined by past and present theatre staff and actors, representatives of the community and representatives of the theatre industry. This special performance
of Kind Hearts and Coronets on Monday 22 September was
the culmination of a weekend of events celebrating the Theatre’s
50th Anniversary, which was launched by Her Majesty The Queen during
her official visit to the theatre on Wednesday 6 March 2003.
Education Manager, Samantha Lane said, “Each of the four Dancing House tours were full to capacity. Performing in settings such as the roof, the bar, backstage areas, the stage and rehearsal space, Dancing Houses involved lots of people from the local community who have been working with professional dancers and choreographers to create fun and innovative new dance pieces, celebrating the Queen's as a producing theatre”. On Sunday 21 September, at 10.30 am, a Celebration Service for the Queen’s Theatre was held at St Andrew’s Church, Hornchurch, led by Rev Canon Hugh Dibbens. The church service was well attended by the local community and involved performances and readings from members of the Queen’s professional company of actor-musicians and members of Q Club, the Queen’s Youth Theatre for 7-11 year olds. From 12.45 to 2.45 on Sunday 21 September, the Queen’s Theatre Foyer played host to a lively Celebration Jazz Session from Pete Corrigan and the Band of Hope, with celebrity guest André Besson. |
On
Monday 22 September, the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone joined
a full house of enthusiastic supporters at the Queen’s Theatre,
Hornchurch, for a special performance of 
Describing
the Queen’s Theatre as “a tribute to London”,
Ken Livingstone said “It is a tragedy that each London
Borough cannot maintain a theatre such as the Queen’s…
As Mayor of London, the GLA is committed, through our cultural strategy,
to support the Queen’s Theatre… In years to come people
will realise the importance and diversity of London’s suburban
cultural centres… [and] boroughs across London will be envious
of the Queen’s achievements in Havering.”
The
events got underway on Saturday 20 September with Dancing Houses,
part of London Open House and in partnership with East
London Dance. Four backstage tours with a dancing
difference, saw specially choreographed dances to music from musicals
produced at the theatre over the last 50 years, highlighting some
of the theatrical magic behind the scenes at the Queen’s.
| Other Events in 2003 |