A comedy first, touring opera, live music and pop-up panto have all been announced for a theatre's line-up when it reopens its doors next month.

The Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells will reopen to audiences on Saturday, October 17 for the first time since March.

The opening show is a first for the theatre as The Comedy Store takes to the stage and begins one of three trial residences at the theatre.

The second residency will see the English Touring Opera visit to present often unperformed and small works, and the third will see The Forum staging The Forum Nights on most Thursdays.

The line-up will also include a small scale pop-up style panto, Jack and the Beanstalk, more details for which will be announced in the coming weeks.

Theatre director JJ Almond said: "We could not have pulled this season together without the goodwill and support of our producers and we are really grateful to them and all of the artists involved, being willing to come to our venue and return to live entertainment.

"We also hope to announce some more community shows in the coming weeks, and to launch a new theatre membership scheme before Christmas. There will be fewer seats available for shows as we adapt to the new way of working so it’s important to book early."

The theatre will operate at reduced capacity with social distancing, with 350 seats available for most shows and 100 for cabaret shows.

Simon Mason from The Comedy Store added: "The Comedy Store is very excited to be working with the Assembly Hall Theatre in the coming months to bring some of the best and brightest comedy talent to this fabulous venue. It's great to see theatres starting to re-open and we are very proud to have a small part to play in the process. We hope this will be the start of a great partnership going forward."

Tickets for many of the upcoming shows go on sale this week, starting on Thursday, September 24.

Jack and The Beanstalk promises audience a new take on the traditional form, with low ticket prices to reflect the pop-up style of the show.

More details of shows coming will be announced later but they are expected to include Strictly Come Dancing star Kevin and, his sister Joanne Clifton in late November and stand-up from Omid Djalili: Schmuck for a Night.

The London Cabaret Society will also bring some of the best drag, burlesque and cabaret acts from across Europe in an intimate cabaret table setting, and there will be a further residency by the Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra.

Full details of the programme will be announced via the theatre’s website at assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

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