Queen's Theatre Hornchurch to Stage Immersive 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Parents wanting to make the festive season even more magical for their little ones this year will not want to miss 'Twas the Night Before Christmas from 6 - 23 December.

Created by Queen's Theatre Hornchurch and Rainham Hall National Trust, this fully immersive show sees families enter the bedroom of a Christmas mad seven-year-old. Youngsters will help him finish decorating his room, turning it into the cosiest, Christmassy bedroom in the world! Join in the countdown to Christmas and discover which toy he finds in his patchwork quilt advent calendar, and don't forget to listen out for the elf bells!

It is performed at Rainham Hall's charming, historic hayloft and is suitable for accompanied 3 - 7 year olds.

Based on the famous poem by Clement Clarke Moore, local actor Samuel Ward-Smith will perform the story about a child's encounter with Santa Claus and his desperation to see him again. Samuel Ward-Smith is a recent graduate from Mountview Academy and has a strong association with the Queen's Theatre. He was a member of its youth theatre, QYouth for 8 years (2005 - 2013) and completed an apprenticeship with the theatre before going to drama school.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas takes inspiration from festive celebrations during the 1940s to coincide with Rainham Hall's Remembering the Day Nursery exhibition. It celebrates the time when the Hall operated as a state-run wartime nursery for local children between 1943 and 1954.

Written and directed by the Queen's Theatre's Artistic Director Douglas Rintoul, this unique experience will get everyone, young and old, peering a little further into the sky this Christmas Eve.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas will be performed at Rainham Hall's historic hayloft from 6 - 23 December. Tickets are £7.50 for all weekday performances and £10 at weekends. Performances are at 11.30am and 1.30pm with an additional 3.30pm performance at weekends. To book, call the Queen's Theatre's Box Office on 01708 443333 or go online at queens-theatre.co.uk.