Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch will present Joe Orton’s classic farce Loot from 19 February to 7 March 2026, with press night on Tuesday 24 February at 7.30pm.
Directed by Bethany Pitts, Loot is a biting satire of the Roman Catholic Church, social attitudes to death and the integrity of the police force. The play follows young thieves Dennis and Hal, who rob the bank next door to the funeral parlour where Dennis works and hide the stolen money in Hal’s mother’s coffin. When Inspector Truscott arrives to investigate, chaos ensues as the pair scramble to cover their tracks with the help of Nurse McMahon and Hal’s father, Mr McLeavy.
Packed with razor-sharp dialogue, physical farce and outrageous twists, Loot spirals into absurdity as everyone fights to stay one step ahead.
Premiering in 1965, Loot went on to win Best Play at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards and is now considered one of the most significant British plays of the 20th century. This production marks Bethany Pitts’ first time directing on a mid-scale stage, continuing Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s commitment to nurturing creative talent.
Bethany Pitts said, “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. Orton reinvented farce to go beyond light entertainment and to truly hold a mirror up to the dark underbelly of our society. I’m thrilled to be directing this production in 2026, and to bring his unique brand of anarchic and painfully funny humour to QTH.”
The cast includes Samuel Armfield, Omar Bynon, Tanya-Loretta Dee, Nicholas Karimi, Tom Mangan and Simon Startin.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
