1977 Arts Council of Great Britain Report "The Arts Britain Ignores" praises KMT for its contribution in integrating local ethnic minority cultures into the theatre’s main work.

1978 The KMT’s in-house production of "Hair" undertakes a 26 week national tour

1981 "The Stage" Newspaper praises the KMT as a "true community theatre" and suggests it is one of the best run , with one of the lowest local authority subsidies in the country.

1982 Death of Kenneth More

1983 The KMT’s own production of "Godspell" transfers to the Lyceum Theatre, Crewe and opens a national tour.

1984 The KMT’s own production of "Rocky Horror Show" undertakes a short 3 week tour.

At a ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall, Esther Rantzen names KMT as one of London’s best art venues for disabled people.

1985 "Rocky Horror Show" plays a 39 week nationwide tour

1986 One millionth ticket sold

"Rocky Horror Show" plays a further 47 weeks on tour

1987 "Rocky Horror Show" plays another 47 weeks touring the UK, and 3 weeks in Israel

1988 "Rocky Horror Show" ends its phenomenal UK tour after a further 30 weeks. It has thus become the second most successful touring show in British Theatre history. (It was beaten only by the perennial "Joseph")

1989 The KMT buys a laser and installs a trap door - thus maintaining its reputation for the latest in equipment and facilities.

A German Production Company takes the KMT’s "Rocky Horror Show" on a six month long European Tour. It plays in Germany, Belgium, Holland, Italy and France. The KMT becomes one of the very few provincial theatres to achieve international recognition.

1991 The KMT completes a cycle of all the major Mozart operas to mark the Mozart Bi-Centenary. "Opera" magazine, reviewing the nation-wide celebrations, praises the KMT for the greatest all-round achievement.

1992 The American musical "Rags" is given its European premiere at the KMT, and is attended by visitors from New York and several major European theatres.

1994 The KMT celebrates its 20th birthday with a series of major productions.

1996 The first "London Mayors’ Pantomime Evening" is held. This is now an annual event to which all the London mayors are invited, and has become an established part of the London-wide civic celebrations.

1997 Redbridge Council provides a grant of £35,000 specifically to finance productions – the first such grant given to the theatre

The KMT presents its first ever full-length classical ballet; its first ever schools’ tour; and much new innovative work.

The pantomime "Snow White" achieves a complete 100% sell out over 63 performances.

1998 The Two Millionth ticket is sold; a series of "star name" concerts are staged; a "Schools’ Week" is staged; a wide range of multi-cultural events are staged. The pantomime "Aladdin" achieves a complete 100% sell –out over 66 performances.

1999 The KMT opens a "Millennium Festival". Over a period of 18 months the theatre presents key productions covering 2000 years of Theatre – from Greek tragedy to Shakespeare, Jacobean tragedy, Restoration, Victorian Melodrama, Oscar Wilde, Noel Coward, Rattigan, Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, John Osborne, Joe Orton, etc. This Millennium Programme was claimed to be the most extensive of any such celebrations held in the UK.

2001 To mark the unrivalled contribution of the Cowan Family to the KMT, and also the retirement of Vera Cowan from the Board of Governors, the Studio Theatre was renamed - the COWAN STUDIO.

Vera was the widow of Harold Cowan, the first Chairman of the Board. Her retirement marked an end to thirty years' involvement of the Cowan Family with the KMT. Harold Cowan, a former Mayor, Councillor, Leader of the Council, Alderman, Freeman of the Borough, and holder of the OBE, was the first Chairman of the "New Civic Theatre Steering Committee" at its formation in December 1970. He became the first Chairman of the KMT from its opening in 1974 and remained its chief advocate and most passionate supporter until his death in 1979. Vera was then appointed to the Board.

2002 Vivyan Ellacott, General Manager and Artistic Director of the KMT from the very beginning, is appointed an Honorary Freeman of the London Borough of Redbridge. The honour acknowledges Vivyan's 30 years of service to theatre arts generally and his especial contribution to community arts in Redbridge. Vivyan is the only non-politician to receive this honour in Redbridge.

2004 The KMT celebrates its 30th birthday. The KMT’s Assistant Manager, Robert Quarry, achieves a record which is possibly unique in theatre history. This year marks his 30th successive pantomime at the KMT – 30 years of panto at the same theatre.  

2005 Death of Edna Graham – Resident Musical Director of Operas and Musical Theatre from 1985 onwards.

2006 Plans are announced for a “bigger and better” theatre to replace the KMT. The new building is proposed for a site across the road from the existing theatre.

2008  In spite of detailed plans and much advance work, a financial crisis, especially serious in the building industry, means plans for a new theatre are postponed indefinitely.

2009  The KMT completes 35 years under the same management and plans a series of events to celebrate becoming the longest surviving theatre in Ilford.

2010 Vivyan Ellacott retires as Manager and Artistic Director, a position he has held for a record-breaking 37 years, from the very beginnings of the KMT. During this time he has directed over 275 productions, including 35 pantomimes, 28 operas, 130 musicals and innumerable plays.  The KMT stages  a major “farewell show” in September.  At the same time Robert Quarry decides to retire, having been Assistant Manager from the very beginning. A new Manager, Robert Jackson, takes over.

2011  Redbridge Council announces a £20,000 cut in the KMT’s annual grant to be followed by three more years of cuts, so that the theatre must become completely self-supporting by the end of that period.  Robert Jackson resigns after eight months in the job.  Steven Day stages a highly successful fund-raising concert of the musical “Nine” to help replenish the missing £20,000.

2012  Steven Day is appointed the new Manager of the Kenneth More Theatre.