Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch has announced a new project, a Creative Estuary co-commission entitled Tales From The Thames. Aiming to reach parts of Essex where live theatre is rarely if at all staged, the piece will chart its way along the Estuary, visiting ten richly diverse communities everywhere from a village hall in West Tillbury, a historic pub on Canvey Island, to a Leisure Centre in Pitsea!

Tales from the Thames tells an epic story of five lives that collide over the course of a single day on the riverbank, and change forever. Written by Queen’s Theatre very own Associate Rebecca Brewer and playwright Vickie Donoghue, the piece also features music from Southend songwriter M G Boulter. 

Tales from the Thames begins as the sun rises over the river, and everything's coming to life. The soundtrack of the Estuary is heard, from the dawn chorus of birds to engines starting, front doors closing and metal containers being loading onto waiting ships; across South Essex journeys are about to be made.

But today is different...

As the play develops, the audience is confronted with the emerging philosophical question: Can fractured relationships and fears of the future be overcome by stopping for a moment, taking in the view and listening to the water as it brings stories and memories to the shore?

The production is the first in a series of exciting collaborative Creative Estuary co-commissions that aim to showcase the wealth of creative talent and passion present in the 60 miles of North Kent and South Essex regions, with the team brought together via an Open Call for practitioners.

Executive Director for Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Mathew Russell, said: “We’re taking it to ten community venues across South Essex and Tales from the Thames will be free to attend for everyone. The venues and locations have been chosen as places where local people rarely, if ever, have the opportunity to see live theatre performed. They’re all intimate settings, so the atmosphere will be electric.”

Free tickets will be available from Monday 7 June from Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s website here.