Bob's Forbidden love is given a fresh look

The reason that one theatre will be effectively emptying into the auditorium of another for the night is simple.

Bob Carlton, artistic director of the Queen's wrote the play and many of Cut to the Chase, the Queen's own repertory company, performed in it when it was in the West End.

Bob, who has been at the Queen's for two years explained: "I wrote Forbidden Planet back in 1983 for the Bubble Theatre Company. The group performed in big tops around greater London.

"It then appeared at repertory theatres and gained a reputation as a fun show which filled houses.

"In 1989 it went into the West End where it won an Olivier award and since then it has been constantly on the move."

It has also constantly been updated. As Bob explains: "I wrote it for a repertory company for specific people with specific skills. When new people come onto the cast they bring new skills and we make alterations to use those skills.

"I think it's one of the reasons that it's not dead. It was the first play in which the actors had to play instruments, it started quite a trend." It was also a style that Bob liked enough to use later in his career.

"Cut To the Chase, the repertory company at the Queen's, are the only company who are all actor/musicians it gives the productions there an identity," he explained.

"We don't have any stars. They are all good actors and musicians.'

Having an identity is one of the things that has helped business at the Queen's pick up. When Bob took over as artistic director, sales for the shows were around 25 per cent. The latest figures for the theatre show sales to be at 89.4 per cent.

"This is partly due to the style and quality of the shows -Cut to the Chase put 110 per cent effort in, whether it's a full house or six men and a dog - and also due to the marketing scheme, Jump the Queue."

This is a scheme that allows subscribers to buy cheap theatre seats in advance. Now regulars at the Queen's know the quality of the performances and are happy to pay in advance for shows that they may have been dubious about elsewhere.

"There was a subscription scheme when I first came here," says Bob, "but it was very complex. We have just simplified it and sold cheap seats.

The talent and commitment of Cut to the Chase is certainly a big factor in the Queen's success story, and the core of talented actors who are also talented musicians fluctuates with new members joining as others leave.

The contracts are through the season, and the changes through natural wastage are according to Bob: "Good. It keeps it fresh, and it's like a school or a football team, a new player joins the squad and they take in the ethos and discipline that already exists.

"People also come back, it's a floating pool. I would like to be able to offer our actors a twelve month contract, but funds don't allow that. At the moment they have to rely on my loyalty and I on their trust.

"The good thing is that this is a London theatre, so an actor who we are paying £280 per week can ask if he can have a morning off to audition for an advertisement, and if he gets it then it supplements his income."

Now the show that started it all is back in the area with a cast that has been with it since February. The show has changed quite a bit.

"It had got to the point when several bits of business that actors had created were being kept and the story was getting lost.

"This time we have gone back to basics, "says Bob, "It is a good adventure story with all the tension. It tells the story clearly and we have even added in a couple of new songs."

Return to the Forbidden planet is at the Cliffs Pavilion, Station Road, Westcliff from Monday until Saturday, October 2.

Tickets are available from the box office on 01702 351135.

Bob Carlton - has made a success at the Queen's Theatre

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