Through The Ages-A fantastic light show celebrating the history of the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch.

As part of the creative Blueprint Festival at the Queen’s Theatre they have come up with a splendid light show using the theatre as a backdrop. The detail is in the title- highlighting musical shows and the history of the theatre from its’ opening in 1953 to the present day.
Spectacular music and light show, Through the Ages, illuminates Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch

‎From the first production of The Who’s Tommy to the first UK revival of Kinky Boots – the Musical, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch has built up a rich history of musical theatre as well as drama since it opened in 1953.

In tribute to this vibrant musical past, the grade-II listed building provides the backdrop for Through The Ages, a spectacular music and light show with archive projections and pyrotechnics launched on 15 September. The 20-minute display runs at 9pm each night until 17 September, then again at the same time 22-24 September, as part of Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s Blueprint Festival.

As well as being a festival of new ideas, Blueprint is intended to showcase the building, which was designed by Hallam and Brooks and opened by Sir Peter Hall in 1975 after Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch moved from its original site in a converted cinema.

Featuring music and images from some 20 productions, Through The Ages includes more than 100 lighting and effects units, all low energy LED, and more than 1,000 lighting cues.  It has been designed and produced by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s technical team, including Stephen Pemble (Lighting Designer/Programmer), Michael Bennett (Head of Sound), and Charlotte Philpot (Lighting No.2/Visuals Assistant).

Other notable past musical productions from Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch featured in Through The Ages include Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers starring Kiki Dee; The Olivier Award-winning Return to the Forbidden Planet, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show; the first UK revival of Made in Dagenham; Once, which received six London theatre award nominations and the regional premiere of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

Pemble says: “From idea to concept, this visual feast has been a long time in the making. We’re really excited to celebrate our theatre’s musical history. Designing such a unique creation for Queen’s Theatre Hornchurchhas been an exciting challenge and we can’t wait to share it.”

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch was named in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, when it was founded in the year of the coronation. 

The theatre won UK Theatre Award for Most Welcoming Theatre (East region) in 2016, 2017 and 2018 and, in 2020, the prestigious London Theatre of the Year Stage Award.

Blueprint is a festival of new ideas that has something for everyone. The two weeks of 12 exciting events has seen the inside and outside of the theatre use every available space from the rooftop to the basement and car park – with new writing, immersive experiences, a scratch night, culinary delights, promenade performances, Essex stories, accessible performances, DJ Chinaman and more. Most events are £5 plus 65p QNext Fee and some are free.

Tickets for Through the Ages are free however, advanced booking is required. For more details and the full programme of the Blueprint Festival, visit http://www.queens-theatre.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01708 443333. Blueprint runs until 24 September.

The lighting by Stephen Pemble and sound by Michael Bennett were superb, and on a cold night had us all dancing and singing along!