Orchard Theatre
By Gareth on October 21, 2010 in Arts, Dartford Messenger Weekly Column
Date: Thu 21st October 2010
I recently visited the excellent Orchard Theatre to hear about how the theatre is run, its forthcoming productions and how it interacts with the community as it still receives public money. It is certainly an impressive 960 seat theatre which is well maintained and it was fascinating to see behind the scenes – the dressing rooms, the signed posters of former acts and hear about the tantrums and hierarchy of the dressing room allocations.
I was particularly interested in the schools programme which opens its stage to school productions during the summer months and long may this continue. This kind of community activity from the theatre is exactly what Dartford needs.
This coming winter's productions sound very exciting with Bobby Davro heading up the winter panto season in Jack and the Beanstalk which runs from 4 th December through to 9th January.
Dartford would be a lesser place without its theatre. Many towns around Kent have lost their theatres and I would hate to see Dartford go the same way. I hope that the Orchard is able to attract as many theatre goers as possible who, ultimately will ensure its survival.