Queen Elizabeth Theatre Company – exciting news from Cunard

When Queen Elizabeth enters service in October 2010, Cunard will introduce an original concept in theatrical entertainment at sea with the newly formed Queen Elizabeth Theatre Company. Guests will enjoy a brand new repertoire of shows premiered by the Company’s 29 singers, dancers, actors and musicians, including the hit ‘Slice of Saturday Night’, a popular nostalgic pastiche of 1960s music which has been staged in London and toured extensively throughout the UK and US. Adapted especially for the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Company by its original writers, the Heather Brothers, ‘Slice of Saturday Night’ features all of the Theatre Company members, the largest production show that Cunard has ever staged.

Performing in the ship’s stunning Royal Court Theatre, the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Company will present a variety of musical productions and abridged versions of popular plays such as a Neil Simon triple bill and Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’. The Simon show will feature three scenes, one each from some of the playwright’s best-loved shows – ‘Last of the Red Hot Lovers’, ‘Plaza Suite’ and ‘The Odd Couple’ – each linked by their setting: an apartment or hotel suite. At the conclusion of each show, the audience is given the opportunity for an informal Q&A session with the actors.

‘The Piccadilly Line’, featuring the talents of the entire Theatre Company, explores the spoken word, song and prose as characters get on and off a train journey on the world’s oldest underground rail system. The action is set in the shell of a London tube train carriage.

‘Hotel Royale’ is a musical production featuring 16 singers and dancers who whimsically bring to life the story of a hotel which is past its prime – once the playground of the rich and famous, it is now home to some quirky staff and unusual guests.

‘Sing’, a lively production based on the popularity of ‘Singers in Concert’ performed on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, features 21 live musicians and four singers on stage, and creates a dynamic, audience-pleasing atmosphere in the Royal Court Theatre from the very first note. The show’s influences are drawn from contemporary musical theatre, pop and classic songs which will be very familiar to the audience.

Queen Elizabeth’s guests will also be able to take part in a specially written panel quiz show which will offer an afternoon of friendly banter. Satire quiz shows such as ‘Have I Got News for You’ and ‘QI’ are very popular and the Theatre Company will have its own take on topical news and entertainment stories.

Queen Elizabeth continues the tradition of presenting Cunard’s Royal Nights with the debut of ‘The Cunard Ball’, ‘London Swings’, ‘The Starlight Ball’ and the ‘Elizabethan Ball’. ‘London Swings’ will be featured on the same evening as ‘Slice of Saturday Night’, with its inspirations taken from flower power and popular British 60s’ icons such as Twiggy, Mary Quant, and Carnaby Street.

In addition, Queen Elizabeth will offer Cunard’s award-winning Insights enrichment programme which introduces guests to stimulating experts and accomplished academics. Through a series of lectures, Q&As, social gatherings and workshops, guests connect with personalities who have achieved distinction in areas including history, world affairs, science, arts and literature. The Insights programme underscores Cunard’s view that onboard entertainment should afford guests a provocative and rewarding experience.

New for Queen Elizabeth will be the introduction of Professional Insights, a series of expert workshops on diverse subjects including antiques and auctions, sculpture, movie reviews, performance poetry, and even weather forecasting.