A brand-new production of Sleeping Beauty will be showing at the Orchard West Theatre from Saturday, December 14, 2024, to Sunday, January 5, 2025.
With a major casting announcement yet to be announced, audience members can expect a show jam-packed with panto ingredients, with plenty of interaction, song, dance, and tonnes of laughter.
Tickets are on sale now and start from £16.
Located on the Westgate site just a stone’s throw from The Orchard Theatre, Orchard West is a unique setting for audiences to continue to enjoy live performances in a warm, safe and comfortable environment, whilst essential building work is completed at The Orchard Theatre.
Orchard West is a state-of-the-art temporary venue with a 1,091 capacity.
The seating arrangement includes front-row, flat floor seats and a raised platform, offering excellent views of the stage.
It also provides comfortable seating for all theatregoers and facilities for those guests with disability and accessibility requirements.
Orchard West opened in 2023 after a collaboration between Dartford Borough Council (DBC) and Trafalgar Theatres, the theatres division of Trafalgar Entertainment.
The Orchard Theatre will re-open in early 2025.
Imagine Theatre is a pantomime and theatre production company run by husband-and-wife team Steve and Sarah Boden and is part of the Trafalgar Entertainment group of companies.
Each year Imagine Theatre works on over forty pantomime productions across the United Kingdom, supplying everything from a single pantomime prop through to the staging of entire productions.
In the last two years, Imagine Theatre have received twenty nominations from the UK Pantomime Association Awards, winning five, including awards for the Best Set and Best Pantomime over 900 seats.
Steve Boden, Chief Executive of Imagine Theatre said: “Dartford audiences absolutely love their pantomime and whilst their theatre is undergoing its renovations, we can’t wait to share our brand-new production of Sleeping Beauty with them.
“Orchard West will be transformed into a magical panto kingdom with all the ingredients Dartford audiences have come to expect from their panto and some extra special surprises as well.”
Tal Rosen, Theatre Director of Orchard Theatre/Orchard West said: “The annual pantomime is not just the highlight of The Orchard Theatre’s year; it’s a key event for all of Dartford.
“The entire community, along with visitors from beyond, eagerly anticipates this festive tradition, which has become an essential part of many families’ Christmas celebrations.
“I am thrilled to collaborate with our sister company, Imagine Theatre, renowned for their long-standing, award-winning pantomimes.
“I couldn’t be more excited to reveal what we have planned for this Christmas in Orchard West, a Christmas Experience not to be missed.”
