Priscilla, Queen of the Desert revival to feature in Queen's Theatre Hornchurch new season

Queen's Theatre Hornchurch has announced its plans for 2018, during which it will celebrate its 65th anniversary.

The venue will revive Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, from 27 April to 19 May. Directed by the venue's artistic director Douglas Rintoul, the musical is written by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott. Set in the Australian outback, the musical is based on the cult 1994 film which starred Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce.

From 15 February to 3 March, Queen's Theatre will present Alfred Hitchcock's Rope, in a co-collaboration with New Wolsey Theatre. The show follows a string of collaborations between the two venues, including the regional premiere of Made in Dagenham last year.

As was announced last month, Queen's Theatre has been selected to partner with the National Theatre for the Public Acts initiative, bringing in regional talent and hosting it on the National's stage. Next August, with a cast of professionals alongside a Hornchurch community ensemble, Chris Bush will adapt a new version of Shakespeare's Pericles directed by Emily Lim. The show will have choreography from Imogen Knight and music by James Fortune.

Finally, the venue will once again partner with Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg on a new production of Diana Samuels' Kindertransport in association with Selladoor productions. Marking the 25th anniversary since the piece's debut and the 80th anniversary of the Kindertransport initiative, the show will embark on a UK tour to the New Wolsey Theatre, Richmond Theatre and Manchester Opera House.