A Dreamland Sideshow Christmas show relaunches the Tom Thumb Theatre

by Peter Barnett

The dormant Tom Thumb Theatre in Margate will be glittering like a Christmas tree when it reopens for business.

Like tinsel and decorations on the tree, the final preparations are under way for the venue's seasonal family extravaganza which will be staged by the Tom Thumb Players.

The theatre's Jessica Jordan-Wrench said: "My family and I purchased the theatre at auction in April, as we were determined to save the historic building - one of the smallest in the world - from property developers.

"We are programming a season of events that we hope will place the Tom Thumb firmly back at the heart of the community"

The first production - A Dreamland Sideshow Christmas - is set to open on Thursday night.

In the story, Dreamland amusement park may be dormant, but one sideshow is thriving - sort of.

Desperate times call for desperate measures and Sven Jolly, the ever-canny impresario, has forced a holiday theme onto his sideshow to raise sales. Now his band of awe-inducing curiosities must attempt to bring Christmas to Margate.

Featuring Meredith the Margate Mermaid, George the Werefox, The Fortune Teller, and the amazing, microscopic Tom Thumb, this is a holiday show with a twisted twist.

Jessica added: "The company has drawn inspiration from Dreamland, the work of JMW Turner, the stunning Kent coastline and stories provided verbatim by the Margate community.

"It is part promenade; part fair; part circus; and all theatrical delight."

The show runs at the venue until December 30.