The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole musical revival set for Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch

A revival of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13¾ musical will play at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch in 2022.

As part of the venue’s newly announced Spring 2022 season, a new production will run from 28 April to 21 May.

Adapted from Sue Townsend’s best-selling book of the the same name, the show features a book and lyrics by Jake Brunger, with music and lyrics by Pippa Cleary.

The new actor-musician version will be directed by Douglas Rintoul with further creatives and casting to be announced.

The season will also include a major revival of Arthur Miller’s drama, All My Sons, playing 10 February – 5 March. Directed by Douglas Rintoul (Artistic Director), the production will feature design by the award-winning Amy Jane Cook (The Season, The Royal & Derngate, Northampton and New Wolsey Theatre and Jellyfish, The National Theatre and Bush Theatre) and lighting by Stephen Pemble (Misfits and Neville’s Island, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch).

Running 17 March to 2 April will be a new production of Tom Wells’s play The Kitchen Sink, celebrating its 10th anniversary. Caroline Leslie directs with Stephen Pemble again providing lighting.

In a collaboration with Leeds Playhouse and Curve Leicester, the venue will also showcase the world premiere of Maggie May, directed by Jemima Levick from 23 – 28 May. Written by Frances Poet, the show was previously forced to close prematurely in March 2020 as a result of the pandemic before its official opening night.

The venue has also announced a new commission from Vickie Donoghue, adaptor of The Witchfinder’s Sister, writing a major new drama inspired by the Canvey Island floods of 1953 for later in 2022/2023, and support for two Black Essex commissions – Mia Jerome and her new piece of work Rice & Peas, and Anne Odeke and her The Essex Princess.

Douglas Rintoul, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch said: “Announcing a new season is always special, but this time it’s exceptional as it’s the first time we’ve been able to plan this far ahead since the beginning of 2020, back when we won the London Theatre of the Year Stage Award. We’ve got some cracking stories we know you’re going to love, so join us as we do what we do best – give you a great time at the theatre.”

Tickets will go on general sale from queens-theatre.co.uk.

About the author: Josh Darvill

Josh is Stageberry's editor with over five years of experience writing about theatre in the West End and across the UK. Prior to following his passion for musicals, he worked for more than a decade as a TV journalist.