Dorking Halls celebrated its return with a family-friendly grand reopening on Saturday 22 May.
The event was Three Little Pigs-themed to celebrate The Unusual Theatre Company bringing their musical theatre production of the fairy tale to Dorking Halls during October half term.
Children got to meet the pigs from the play, along with their friend Mole Valley District Council’s Merlin the Mole. Past and present students from the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) entertained the crowds with live acoustic music and pop covers. They were joined by 15-year-old violinist Matthew English, who was one of the winners of Dorking Halls’ 2020 lockdown music video competition, Social Sounds.
There was popcorn, children’s goody bags, a competition to win panto tickets and free tea and coffee for the grown-ups. Saturday Morning Kids Cinema also returned with well-attended screenings of Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway and Tom and Jerry The Movie.
Dorking Halls has lined up an array of socially distanced shows this spring and summer. Inspired by the much-loved Julia Donaldson picture book, heart-warming show The Snail & the Whale arrives on 9 and 10 June. Popular open air theatre weekend Plays in the Park is back at Meadowbank on 16-18 July with shows for all ages, including children’s productions, comedy and drama. For music fans there’s Phil Collins tribute No Jacket Required on Saturday 17 July.
Films showing now include Peter Rabbit 2, Oscar-winners Nomadland and Sound Of Metal, and My New York Year. Upcoming event screenings include musicals 42nd Street on Friday 11 June, The King and I on Thursday 17 June and Funny Girl starring Sheridan Smith on Thursday 24 June.
Cabinet Member for Leisure, Councillor David Draper said: “It was wonderful to see so many people at our grand reopening. The event had a great community feel, and I think everyone – including myself – had a lot of fun. It was our way of saying a big welcome back to our many loyal customers and sharing with them all the exciting and varied events we’ve got lined up for spring and summer.”
Dorking Halls has been awarded See it Safely and Good To Go status, meaning that it complies with the latest Government and industry COVID-19 guidelines. See the venue’s safety measures at www.dorkinghalls.co.uk/safety.
To book tickets to films and shows, visit dorkinghalls.co.uk or call 01306 881717.
