Torch Theatre Re-Opens

Milford Haven’s Torch Theatre will re-open on Wednesday 1 September 2021. After a long 18 months, this is much welcomed news for the theatre, its staff and volunteers, and most importantly its community who have missed the thrills and enjoyment of on-stage and big screen entertainment.

The Torch will offering a full programme of cinema and live broadcasts throughout September. As a special thank you to the Pembrokeshire community for their ongoing support and loyalty, all cinema tickets will be priced at £5 per ticket and live broadcasts will be priced at £10 per ticket for all September screenings.

The cinema programme includes Disney’s Cruella, Fast and Furious 9, Peter Rabbit 2, The Suicide Squad, Dream Horse and The Father. Later in September, the Torch will be screening Marvel’s Shang Chi, People Just Do Nothing, Big In Japan and Free Guy. Live broadcast offerings include Andre Rieu’s Together Again and the National Theatre Live’s Follies and Romeo and Juliet. Socially distanced seating will remain in place throughout September as the theatre gears up to returning to full capacity from October with the return of its live theatre programme.

Executive director of the Torch Theatre, Benjamin Lloyd, said: “These past months have been incredibly painful and isolating for so many, and this has been made worse by the loss of communal experience and expression throughout lockdown. Whilst the Torch has carried on our support of community groups, classes and our youth theatre, online and behind closed doors, nothing is the same without our audiences inhabiting the building and so we are beyond thrilled to announce our public reopening with a trademark rich, varied and inclusive programme.”

For the reassurance of audiences and staff alike, enhanced Covid policies and procedures will be in place for when the doors re-open. In accordance with Welsh Government guidelines, patrons will be asked to wear a face mask at all times (unless eating or drinking), hand sanitiser stations will be located throughout the building, bookings will be limited to group bubbles with socially distanced seating placed across both auditoria, patrons will be encouraged to book online (box office support is available) and use print at home/digital tickets where possible, and entry times will be staggered across the day so that the theatre can be thoroughly cleaned before the next performance.

There will also be a few changes to how food and drink is offered from within the Torch. A new kiosk has been built in the box office offering a range of sweets and snacks, ice creams, hot and cold drinks, and alcoholic beverages. The main bar spaces and Café Torch will remain closed initially but will re-open later in the year as the Torch phases in different parts of its operations coinciding with the lifting of social distance restrictions.

The much-acclaimed Torch Theatre Company Productions will return to the stage from October starting with Angel, a play inspired by the true story of a female Kurdish freedom fighter who fought against Isis insurgents in Syria. Also from October, the Torch will welcome two extraordinary exhibitions: One World: An Exhibition from the Penally Camp Artists will feature in the Torch’s Oriel Joanna Field Gallery, and, to coincide with the launch of a website for our artistic engagement project The Pembrokeshire Story, a specially curated exhibition will be held to celebrate the people and places of Pembrokeshire that feature in this innovative project.

The pantomime Cinderella is scheduled to take place this December with Pembrokeshire’s favourite Dame, Dion Davies. Both Angel and Cinderella will be directed by the Torch Theatre’s artistic director, Peter Doran.

The Torch will also welcome back its local community and creative groups. After a summer of socially distanced Youth Theatre and Joon Dance Workshops, all community groups will be returning to the Torch in person from September, including the Cradle Choir, Mother and Baby Groups and Arts Care disability movement classes. Both the Torch Youth Theatre and the Torch Voices Choir will return later in the autumn.

Tickets are now on sale for the Torch’s autumn programme, with more shows to be announced soon. Tickets are recommended to be purchased in advance from www.torchtheatre.co.uk; for extra support with booking, call the box office on 01646 695267.