The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and Derby Theatre have announced their co-production of Richard Bean’s smash-hit comedy, One Man, Two Guvnors.

Directed by Sarah Brigham, Derby Theatre’s Artistic Director and Chief Executive, this co-production of Bean’s hilarious farce will open at Derby Theatre in September before a run at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from Wednesday, October 2, to Saturday, October 19.

One Man, Two Guvnors is a side-splitting mix of physical comedy, farce and live music and has remained a huge hit since the National Theatre’s production opened to rave reviews in 2011. The play continued to be a runaway success when it toured the UK, played in the West End and on Broadway and later played Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand.

After being fired from his skiffle band, Francis Henshall is skint and hungry. He manages to secure a new job as a minder for small time gangster Roscoe Crabbe. What Francis doesn’t know, is his new guvnor is really Roscoe’s sister Rachel in disguise as her own dead brother, who has been killed by her boyfriend Stanley Stubbers.

To further complicate things, Francis nabs a second job working for that very Stanley Stubbers. All Francis has to do to ensure his two guvnors don’t meet.

Douglas Rintoul, Artistic Director at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, said: “After our hugely successful co-productions of Abigail’s Party and Abi, we’re delighted to be partnering again with our friends at Derby Theatre. Hornchurch audiences are in for a truly riotously fun night out.”

Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT, Wednesday, October 2, to Saturday, October 19. Details: 01708 443333 queens-theatre.co.uk