A sharp and scandalous revival of Joe Orton's classic play Loot is set to hit the stage at Queen's Theatre Hornchurch in early 2026. This production marks a significant moment for director Bethany Pitts, presenting her first opportunity to lead a mid-scale staging, underscoring the theatre's commitment to fostering creative talent.
A Timeless Satire Returns
First penned in the 1960s, Loot remains a brilliantly savage comedy that skewers societal attitudes towards death, the integrity of the police, and the hypocrisy of institutions like the Roman Catholic Church. The plot follows two young thieves, Dennis and Hal, who execute a daring robbery of the bank next door to the funeral parlour where Dennis works. In a macabre twist, they hide their stolen cash in the coffin of Hal's recently deceased mother.
Their scheme spirals into chaos with the arrival of the suspicious and dogged Inspector Truscott. Aided by the cunning Nurse McMahon and Hal's weary father, Mr McLeavy, the pair embark on a frantic series of cover-ups. The ensuing whirlwind of razor-sharp dialogue, physical farce, and absurd twists sees the characters scrambling to stay ahead in a world where truth is utterly disposable.
Director's Vision for a Modern Audience
Director Bethany Pitts is thrilled to bring Orton's anarchic vision to a contemporary audience. She notes the play's unsettling relevance, stating: "In a world where truth is a commodity, Orton's darkly comic vision of humanity and Loot's themes of police corruption, hypocrisy and greed hit home anew today."
Pitts emphasises that Orton's genius lay in reinventing farce, pushing it beyond mere light entertainment to hold a mirror up to the dark underbelly of our society. She is excited to direct this production and bring its unique, painfully funny humour to the Queen's Theatre Hornchurch stage.
Performance Details and Accessibility
The production will run for a limited season from Thursday, 19 February to Saturday, 7 March 2026. The performance has a running time of approximately 140 minutes, including an interval, and is deemed suitable for audiences aged 12 and over.
Queen's Theatre Hornchurch has scheduled several accessible performances to ensure wide enjoyment:
- A Touch Tour on Thursday, 26 February at 6.30pm.
- A Captioned performance on Saturday, 28 February at 7.30pm.
- A BSL Interpreted performance on Friday, 6 March at 7.30pm.
The theatre also offers a limited number of Essential Companion tickets for patrons aged 14 and over with disability-related access needs. Please note that all children under 14 must be accompanied by a paying adult (18+) at all performances.
Tickets are priced between £10 for concessions and £30, offering accessible options for all. They can be purchased directly via the theatre's official website at www.queens-theatre.co.uk or by telephoning the box office on 01708 443333. The Queen's Theatre Hornchurch is located in Hornchurch, Essex.
