Raac closure theatre will not reopen before May

The Orchard Theatre shut last September as it has reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) in its roof

A Kent theatre which was closed due to fears over dangerous concrete will not reopen before the end of May.

The Orchard Theatre in Dartford shut in September 2023 as it has reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) in its roof.

A theatre spokesperson said "whilst works are progressing at a pace", contractors "need more time to complete the building works required".

Some shows will be rescheduled or cancelled, a theatre spokesperson said.

Since 2023 some shows have been transferred to a temporary auditorium, Orchard West, which was built to house productions after the closure.

It had been hoped that the theatre would reopen in early 2025.

The statement said customers affected did not need to contact the box office and would be notified in due course.

The theatre said it hoped to make a further update in the next few weeks and thanked customers for their support.