Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is delighted to announce the appointment of Andrew Shepherd as its next Chief Executive, effective 1st July 2024.
Andrew Shepherd brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served as the Executive Director of Selladoor Worldwide, a prominent commercial theatre production company. His previous leadership roles include Executive Director of Theatre503, where he oversaw a remarkable transformation of the new writing venue and initiatives such as securing the 503Studio at Nine Elms and launching a global online writers’ programme. With a background in fundraising and independent theatre and film production, Andrew has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting emerging artists and fostering creative innovation.
Hanif Kureishi’s much loved screenplay is adapted masterfully for the stage in 2019. The story takes a life of its own with characters given more development in the way only theatre allows, with asides and fanciful monologues, that humanise the stuffy Pakistani patriarchs and skinheads alike.
Set in South London during the Thatcher years, the story is told through the eyes of a young mixed-race Pakistani, Omar, who is intent of making a success out of his uncle’s run-down launderette with old school friend and part-time fascist Johnny.
My Beautiful Launderette paints a complex picture and narrative of male masculinity and relationships which explore father-son relationships, brotherly love, friendship and queer love, competition between the ideal Pakistani man and the Westernised ethnic, and finally leadership and pack mentality. Power, love and freedom are main motivators in the play and the various variations of how these dynamics play out between different characters is what makes this story so irresistible to watch. Chemistry is palpable, especially between the main two protagonists Omar and Johnny played impeccably by Lucca Chadwick-Patel and Sam Mitchell.
Speaking of impeccable performances, Gordon Warnecke plays Papa beautifully which makes total sense when you find out that he played Omar Malik in the original film in 1985. You can read the interview with Warnecke with The Belgrade Theatre here. Warnecke’s comic timing especially deserves special mention along with his ability to be lovable even whenbeing a complete twat. Speaking of lovable twats, Paddy Daly’s depiction of Genghis, the Paki-hungry racist and political anarchist, is extraordinary. It is testament to what great actors can do with nuanced writing.
A dish consisting of rice, coconut milk and kidney beans, amongst other seasonings, rice and peas forms the base of many Caribbean meals, a hearty, starchy meal option that has been enjoyed throughout the centuries. As we know, food brings communities together, an incredibly important part of culture that nourishes and preserves cultural history. An exploration of the stories meals can tell, Mia Jerome presents dining experience Rice & Peas, a thoughtful, immersive exploration of cultural heritage, migration, race, family and mental health.
Courtesy of Lucy Basaba.
Post World War II Britain, migrants from the commonwealth nations were invited to live and work here in an effort to help rebuild the country in response to the consequential labour shortage, 1948 marking the beginnings of a time period whereby migrants would go on to help start shaping a multi-cultural Britain, as migrants from Jamaica embarked on an unpredictable journey on the Empire Windrush, concluding at Tilbury Dock, Essex. A new chapter for all, with the hopes of establishing better lives for themselves, as well as providing for their families, the harsh realities of having to assimilate to a social and political climate not as welcoming would become clear. Migrants from various other Caribbean nations following suit and facing the same realities. Exploring this familiar tale of migration, writer Mia Jerome presents Rice & Peas, produced by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and due to play at Metal Culture, Southend-on-Sea from the 28th to 30th April. Looking back at couple Figgy and Edith’s last meal together in Grenada, 1948 before Figgy leaves for Britain, Rice & Peas boasts a specially crafted Caribbean menu by celebrated chef Jon Bentham – the title of course alluding to the West Indian staple, the show rooting all in the couple’s cultural heritage. Ahead of the show, Mia tells us more about exploring the story further, being supported by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and Creative Estuary Commissions and working with Jon Bentham to realise the menu!