Torch Theatre Reports Giant Successes for 2024

Daisy the cow has left the Torch Theatre for pastures new and Jack is happily toiling the soil at Trott’s Tater Farm. After a great run of festive pantomime of Jack and the Beanstalk, it’s time for the Torch Theatre to reflect on its successes and its ‘One More Time’ campaign.

Torch Theatre’s panto (this year sponsored by Valero) remains an all important Christmas treat for young people across Pembrokeshire, with a record record number of schools taking advantage of the Arts Council of Wales’ Go and See Fund, which offers support to attend cultural events.

The Torch also received over 200 entries for it’s ‘Giant’s Golden Object’ competition, which saw many schools submitting designs from pupils across all age ranges! The triumphant winner was Jac of Haverfordwest High School whose fabulous Golden Croc dazzled thousands of audience members across all the performance run.

Tim, Senior Manager Youth and Community at the Theatre said: “It was terrific to see so many young people attending, many for the first time! Panto is a vital opportunity for children to connect with live theatre. We are honoured that the Torch is that first memory for so many members of our community, many of whom go on to join our youth theatre.”

Thanks to the generosity of Elder Meadows Nursery each school that attened received some beans to grow their own beanstalk. The Torch will be hosting a competition later this year to see which school has grown the tallest bean plant.

“It’s very much a battle of the beans here in Pembrokeshire, we can’t wait to find out which is the tallest,” laughed Tim.

Back in September, the Torch Theatre launched its ‘One More Time’ campaign, asking audience members to attend the Torch one more time during 2024 than they normally would, and they responed in force. To thank audiences for their on-going support, the Torch is offering a special winter sale with all cinema tickets just £5. This offer runs until 6 March, so get your tickets now!

This campaign was really successful as Chelsey Gillard, Torch Theatre’s Artistic Director explains:

“Audience members have massively helped us by attending the Torch ‘One More Time’. Local people have stepped up and supported us to raise much needed funds to continue so much of the vital work we do with and for our community.”

Chelsey continued “As a charity we are extremely grateful for the support we’ve received and thanks to the generosity of our audiences we’ve been able to achieve more than ever with our programme of work on stage and with our youth and communtiy work. But as always we’ve got ambitions for 2025 to be even better, with loads of brilliant Cinema, Broadcasts and Live Theatre coming up we know you’ll find something that will make you want to come ‘One More Time’ in 2025.”

Following the huge success of Jack and the Beanstalk, the Torch Theatre is already planning its 2025 pantomime – the hairising adventure Rapunzel. This will be a first for the Torch and the Early Bird tickets are selling well with all tickets frozen at last year’s prices until 6 March.

“Let your hair down and join us for this twisty, tangled tale about the girl with the magical hair, locked away in a lighthouse off the coast of Pembrokeshire. It’s a festive treat that will keep the whole family entertained with hair-larious jokes, audience participation, original songs and plenty of silly shenanigans,” concluded Chelsey.

Rapunzel can be see at the Torch Theatre from Saturday 6 December to Sunday 28 December. For tickets or more information visit torchtheatre.co.uk or phone the Box Office on 01646 695267 and the friendly Box Office staff will be happy to help.