A Passionate Woman

A Passionate Woman at the Queen's

Kay Mellor's  life-changing love story

The Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, launches its 60th anniversary year with Kay Mellor’s poignant love story A Passionate Woman from 1 – 23 February.

A shattering secret changes family life forever in this funny and moving play by Coronation Street writer Kay Mellor. It stars television actress Marji Campi, alongside the Queen’s award-winning professional resident company cut to the chase....

On the morning of her son’s wedding, doting mother Betty is hiding in the attic to escape her unappreciative husband and the reality of an empty nest. Surrounded by happy memories and mementos, Betty relives her youth and a passionate love affair with a man she might have married.

Actress, script-writer and director Mellor first wrote A Passionate Woman for the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 1992 and two years later, it opened in the West End to rave reviews before touring extensively all over the world. In 2010, Mellor co-directed a BBC1 drama series adaptation starring Billie Piper and Sue Johnston and in 2011, she starred in a production at the Oldham Coliseum.

Mellor is hailed one of the UK’s leading TV writers, with hits including Coronation Street,Brookside, Playing the Field, Band of Gold and most recently, The Syndicate. She was awarded an OBE in 2009 for “writing some of the most powerful and successful TV services in recent years” and the BAFTA Dennis Potter Award in 1997 for Outstanding Writing for Television.

Remarkably, Mellor based A Passionate Woman on a revelation about her own mother’s colourful past. She recalls: “One day I was round at my mother’s and she was washing up… she started to talk about a man she used to know… I suddenly saw her crying. She was telling me about an affair she’d had before I was born… she looked me straight in the eye and said ‘I really loved him Kay.’ To hear my Mum say that was unheard of… that’s how the idea for the play came about.”

Playing Betty, Marji Campi has appeared in Coronation Street, EastEnders, Brookside and most notably ITV’s Surgical Spirit.

A Passionate Woman also stars the Queen’s Theatre’s cut to the chase… company members James Earl Adair, Mark Newnham and Sam Pay. This production is directed byQueen’s Artistic Director Bob Carlton with design by Rodney Ford, lighting design byChristopher Howcroft and assistant director is Simon Jessop.

A Passionate Woman runs at the Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, from 1 - 23 February. This production contains some adult language. Tickets cost £16 - £24.50.

Audiences can save money by joining the Queen’s jump the Q scheme and watch all threecut to the chase… shows this season – A Passionate Woman, They’re Playing our Song and Run for your Wife – for just £15 each. This offer ends on 16 February 2013.

Call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or book online at www.queens-theatre.co.uk