One of the world’s smallest theatres, which was almost lost forever before a life-saving sale was agreed, has announced a new season of productions. The Tom Thumb Theatre, with just 60 red velvet seats, is re-launching in December with a host of shows that will place the Tom Thumb firmly back at the heart of the community. It's first offering will be Christmas show, A Dreamland Sideshow Christmas.
It follows impresario Sven Jolly who uses a holiday theme in his sideshow with a band of oddities including Meredith the Margate Mermaid, George the Werefox, and The Fortune Teller. The show is part promenade, part fair, part circus and will be sure to offer an alternative to the traditional Panto.
The former coach house was built in 1896 and was originally turned into a double garage before it emerged as a theatre in the 1980s. The last curtain fell in 2005 with a performance of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. Theatrical agent Lesley Parr-Byrne was the previous owner and she died in 2006, which meant it passed to daughter Sarah. She put it up for auction, selling it for around £130,000. It’s said the building's unusual exterior is influenced by both Japanese and Alpine architecture.