Temporary theatre venue under construction in Dartford

Work is underway on a temporary theatre venue following the closure of the Orchard Theatre in Dartford over reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) concerns.

The Orchard Theatre was closed in September due to fears over RAAC in its roof.

In response, the temporary auditorium, which will have a 1,091-person capacity, is being built in Orchard West.

It will facilitate performances while refurbishment works on the Orchard Theatre are undertaken, which are expected to be completed in late 2024.

A spokesperson for Dartford Borough Council (DBC) told the BBC the temporary venue will also support the continued employment of the theatre team, visiting artists and backstage crew.

One of the temporary venue’s first events will be this year's pantomime.

Michael Harrison, Chief Executive of Crossroads Pantomimes, said: "We're delighted that DBC and Trafalgar Theatres have found such a creative solution to keep theatre alive in Dartford while work on the Orchard Theatre is undertaken".