In a bumper Jubilee week for the Hornchurch & Upminster constituency, Historic England has written to Julia confirming that the Queen's Theatre has been given Grade II listing. The modernist theatre was named after Queen Elizabeth II and is one of only six sites across the country with a connection to Her Majesty to have been listed to mark her Platinum Jubilee. 

Nigel Huddleston, Julia's ministerial colleague at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport said, 'These historic sites provide a fantastic opportunity to reflect on how much life in the UK has changed during Her Majesty the Queen's 70-year reign'.

Reacting to the news, Julia said, 'I am thrilled that Queen's has been recognised in this way as a tribute to Her Majesty. The theatre went through some really difficult times during the pandemic and has received government support from DCMS throughout so that this vital and much-loved arts venue could stay open to local residents and the wider community. The Grade II listing further secures the theatre's future and I hope marks the start of exciting times ahead.'

The Queen’s Theatre was opened in 1975 by Sir Peter Hall, Director of the National Theatre. It first occupied a site in Station Lane, Hornchurch from 1953, in a converted cinema building. The current, purpose-built theatre building was opened in 1975 on Billet Lane, Hornchurch. It is a distinctive and well-designed example of 1970s theatre design and remains relatively intact. The external features are clearly influenced by the work of renowned German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The Queen visited with the Duke of Edinburgh in 2003 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the theatre on its original site, which also coincided with the 50th anniversary of Her Majesty’s coronation, the reason for its naming as Queen’s Theatre. The visit is commemorated with a plaque still held by the Theatre.