N E W S   R E L E A S E

Toe-Tapping Talent Supporting Life-Limited Children

A glittering night of song and dance will pull in the pounds for the Little Havens Children’s Hospice and the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch.

A fundraising Community Gala Performance featuring the best of local dramatic talent will be hosted by the Theatre, which is a registered charity, on Sunday 7^th September at 7.30pm.

As part of the Queen’s celebrations of the 10^th anniversary year of its professional resident company of actor-musicians cut to the chase…, the Theatre is throwing open its stage to community groups to give them the opportunity to perform and help raise funds for Little Havens, which also celebrates its 10^th birthday this year.

West End and Broadway showstoppers, high-octane dance routines and toe-tapping modern tunes will guarantee to get audiences jigging in the aisles.

Community groups strutting their stuff in the limelight include the Fusion Dance Troupe, Havering Music Makers, Future Faces Theatre School, Jump Start Youth Dance Company, Queen’s Community Company, Baylees Theatre School, Mark and Cat Etherington and Finch Stage School.

Tickets cost £20 and include a Champagne and Fairy Cake Reception, After-Show Party and buffet. All proceeds will be split between Little Havens and the Queen’s Theatre.

Community Fundraiser for Little Havens Nadia Van Woerkom says, “This is a very exciting event and we are very privileged to be involved. Children and adults from across the community are coming together on this one night to showcase their talents and help support their local children’s hospice.”

Little Havens is the children’s hospice for Essex, providing respite breaks and end-of-life care for youngsters not expected to reach adulthood. Currently, seven percent of referrals come from Hornchurch and surrounding towns. It will cost £2.1 million this year to continue the care, which is free-of-charge to those who need it.

The Queen’s Theatre is a registered charity reliant on extra support to fund a wide-ranging programme of eight annual main house shows and a vibrant variety of dance, music and comedy performances.  It also offers a diverse Education and Outreach Programme aimed at young people and adults to provide opportunities for study, performance and professional development.

The Community Gala Performance is taking place on Sunday 7^th September at the Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch at 7.30pm.

To book tickets, please call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or visit www.queens-theatre.co.uk

-ENDS-

For further information please contact:

Amy Dearing, PR Manager

01702 220 301, adearing@havenshospices.org.uk

Notes to Editor:

Little Havens offers life-limited children and their family expert care and support in a home-from-home environment, supporting them from the point of diagnosis. It provides respite breaks, symptom control and end-of-life care to those youngsters not expected to reach adulthood. In 10 years, it has cared for over 1,000 children and their families from across Essex and parts of London. All care provided is free-of-charge.

Little Havens continues its care after the death of a child through bereavement services. It costs £2.1 million each year to ensure this care continues, with limited funding from the government.

Little Havens Children’s Hospice is part of Havens Hospices, which also incorporates Fair Havens Hospice in Southend.