Christmas came early to Dartford this week as the town launched its festive panto production.

Crowds at the Orchard West Theatre were treated to a fake snow flurry, a Q&A with the stars and a special performance from Britain’s Got Talent winner Sydnie Christmas to get everyone in the festive mood.

The timeless tale of Sleeping Beauty will take over the Orchard West Theatre, Dartford’s temporary structure replacing the Orchard Theatre while refurbishments take place, from Saturday, December 14.

The production, which associate producer Laura Taylor described as “one of the most exciting pantos out there this year”, marks the first time that theatre company Imagine Theatre has been at the helm of the Christmas show in Dartford.

The company are putting on 21 pantos across the country this year but Sarah Boden, who is joint CEO alongside her husband Steve, assured audiences that this particular show will have “family at the very heart”.

That is partly due to the comedy duo Simmons and Simmons, a father-son team joining the Sleeping Beauty cast.

Keith, who has been doing panto for 55 years, and his son Ben are both Dartford locals.

Ben was born in West Hill Hospital, worked in the former M&S on the high street and joined the Orchard Youth Theatre as a teenager. However, despite starring in 20 pantos as a partnership, this year marks the first time the pair are joining the team at the Orchard.

The launch featured snippets of performances from several acts, including Britain’s Got Talent’s Sydnie Christmas.

The singer, who shot to fame earlier this year when she appeared on the ITV talent show, sang two tunes - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and Frank Sinatra’s My Way - in her sparkling dress as Fairy Christmas.

“I’m really excited,” says Sydnie, who is gearing up for her first panto performance. “It’s got the Britain’s Got Talent songs, so it’ll be really fun to relive my best moments at the end of the year. They are songs that I hold really close to my heart and love singing and they are songs that changed my life, so it’s my pleasure.”

Sydnie, who is from Gravesend, is used to working over the festive period, but this is the first time she’ll be able to spend Christmas quite so close to home.

“It’s going to be amazing,” she says. “My partner is in the panto as well, he’s Sicilian so he would’ve gone back home but now I’m spending Christmas with him. So it’s a really cool Christmas!

“I was always sort of dreading Christmas when I worked away because it is so family-orientated, and I really struggled because I wanted to be with my family. But I’m not dreading it this year because I’m at home, and that’s exactly where I want to be.”

While Sleeping Beauty will mark Sydnie’s panto debut, the 29-year-old has fond memories of seeing similar shows as a child.

“I used to go [to the Orchard] a lot when I was younger,” she says. “I would also go to the Churchill in Bromley because a lot of my friends would be there from college.

“It brings the Christmas spirit alive for the kids. It’s for you to take your kids, it’s for you to enjoy with your children and, for me, seeing kids smiling is the main thing. It’s just all about the magic, and the belief, and the stories - there’s so much in the stories that the kids can learn from.”

Comedian and magician Christian Lee, who plays Josh the Jester, also gave audiences a taste of what they can expect as he performed a balloon gag with the Mayoress Diane Lloyd and hurled paper plates into the audience - which just so happened to land in my lap.

Christian didn’t want to give away his secrets, but he did confirm that theatre-goers can expect to see many more tricks from him this Christmas.

“I’m already working with Simmons and Simmons on new gags,” he says. “We’re sharing a dressing room - never put three comics together, we’re not going to make the stage in time!

“I’ve been given lots of scope and I’ve been adding the tricks I do in other shows. But I’ll just see how it goes, I’ll bring a lot of stuff in and just play around with it.”

The illusionist also appeared on Britain’s Got Talent in 2016 and made it all the way to the semi-finals. When asked how he thought the judges would fare in panto land, Christian didn’t hesitate in dishing out roles.

“Simon would have to be the baddie,” laughs Christian. “Or could he be the dame? He might like it. I mean, David Walliams isn’t there now but he would’ve been the dame. But Bruno could fit that role, very much so. Alesha is like the fairy, and I guess Amanda is the Queen character who could be slightly sinister but she would be good in the end.”

The panto also stars Cleve September as the Prince, Lucy May Pollard as Beauty and Larissa Alexandrovnia as Carabosse.

It’ll have music, dancing, jokes, costumes and audience participation but, when it comes down to it, there’s one big reason that Dartford locals should make their way to the Orchard West Theatre this Christmas.

“You’ve literally got Mrs Christmas in the Christmas panto,” says Sydnie. “It couldn’t be more perfect!”

Sleeping Beauty will be at the Orchard West Theatre from Saturday, December 14 to Sunday, January 5 2025. You can book tickets here.

You can also book tickets by calling 03433 100033.