Panto sets box office record and raises £4,600 for charities

This year’s run of Peter Pan at Tonbridge School’s EM Forster Theatre was an outstanding success, breaking box office records and receiving rave reviews from critics and audiences.

The Wicked Productions panto achieved 90 per cent capacity across its 41 performances, with 14,000 people coming through the doors to enjoy the Christmas spectacular.  

As ever audiences were treated to fantastic scenery and costumes, brilliant special effects, fabulous music and dance and above all plenty of laughs, crazy jokes, panto favourites and audience participation.

Kat Portman Smith, Theatre Manager, said: “There was a real buzz around the show and we are thrilled to have delighted so many people. We love seeing generations of families and friends returning year on year, making it part of their Christmas traditions. 

“Working with Tom Swift at Wicked Productions means we can offer our audiences a truly top-quality show. In our auditorium, people are never far from the action and we keep them involved from beginning to end. We also keep our ticket prices as affordable as possible, to make the shows as accessible as we can. ‘

This year audiences were asked to donate to two local charities, Sustain Foodbank Tonbridge and Taylor Made Dreams, at the end of each performance. More than £4,600 was raised for the two charities.

Sustain is a community food bank that helps individuals and families across Tonbridge who are struggling to put food on the table. Taylor Made Dreams, based in Crowborough, Sussex, enables children with life-limiting illnesses to achieve some of their wishes; the charity also helps provide holistic therapy and counselling for families. 

Tom Swift, from Wicked Productions, said: “We’re so grateful to the generosity of our wonderful audiences over the record-breaking run of Peter Pan. We hope the money raised helps those in need.”

Next year’s panto at the EM Forster Theatre has been announced and tickets are on sale now. Beauty and the Beast will run from 11 December 2020 until 3 January 2021.