Curtain up: Sinden Theatre reopens after £140K upgrade with return of popular Christmas panto

After a closure of almost two years thanks to COVID19, The Sinden Theatre is finally re-opening to the public with the return of a popular Christmas pantomime and a £140K upgrade.

Tenterden’s only commercial theatre used the lockdown to start a major programme of refurbishment including: redecoration, installation of a new lighting rig, a new public bar and an improved outdoor area.

A new top-of-the-range flexible seating system will also be installed in February, enabling the theatre to accommodate a broader range of events, performances and staging styles.

The 231-seat theatre’s new programme includes comedy nights, music tribute shows and drama, but the key launch event is this December with the return of That’s Entertainment Productions Christmas spectacular Dick Whittington. Starring TV funny man Bobby Dazzler as Alderman Fitzwarren, the latest production of the popular 600-year old family pantomime favourite will run from Wednesday 22 December to Tuesday 28 December inclusive.

First opened to the public in 2004, The Sinden is located within the grounds of Homewood School on Ashford Road and is named after its patron, actor and former local Tenterden resident, the late Sir Donald Sinden CBE.

Yvette Robinson, Head of Performing Arts at Homewood, who also manages the theatre’s commercial side, said: “We are so looking forward to welcoming back audiences to The Sinden in time for Christmas. Whilst it has been incredibly frustrating being closed to the public during the pandemic, on the plus side it has provided us with the opportunity to undertake a major upgrade. There is more to come in the New Year with our new seating when we can look forward to offering our audiences an even broader programme of performances, including national touring shows, at a local community venue.”

To book tickets, visit The Sinden Theatre website.

Article courtesy of The Sinden Theatre and Tenterden Schools Trust.