US Edition
Temporary Theatre Declared ‘Extraordinary Success’ Despite More Heavy Losses
FORT ST. JOHN, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, JUL 22 – Mercury Players earned Best Production for Brontë: The World Without, marking their first win at the festival after prior accolades and competing among six productions.
- The Home Gardens venue housing the Orchard Theatre was abruptly closed in September 2023 due to the discovery of hazardous RAAC, leading to the establishment of a temporary replacement called Orchard West in Dartford by December 2023.
- This closure followed pandemic-related challenges and delayed repairs, with Dartford Council approving an additional £10m to remove RAAC and make the original theatre safe again.
- Orchard West, a temporary venue on Hythe Street, hosted all performances, welcomed over 95,000 customers across 173 shows in 2024 and 2025, and retained 91% of its staff despite operating under difficult conditions.
- The theatre posted a net loss of £755,999, equivalent to 34% of revenue in 2023-2024, while Dartford council leader Jeremy Kite called the temporary venue a “no-brainer” vital to keeping the original’s spirit alive.
- The temporary theatre is seen as a solid investment and a vote of confidence in Dartford’s cultural future, with reopening of the original Orchard planned for 2026 pending completion of repairs.
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Total News Sources5
Leaning Left3Leaning Right0Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution75% Left
Bias Distribution
- 75% of the sources lean Left
75% Left
L 75%
C 25%
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