PQA has given 132 free tickets for The Wonderful Panto of Oz at the Jubilee Theatre, Langton Green, on 13 December. More groups can still ask for seats.

Young performers from the Pauline Quirke Academy (PQA) in Tunbridge Wells and Paddock Wood are giving away free seats to their Christmas pantomime, The Wonderful Panto of Oz, at the Jubilee Theatre in Langton Green on Sunday 13 December. The academy says 132 complimentary tickets have already gone to local community groups, charities and families, and more groups can still ask for places while they last.

When and where
Show The Wonderful Panto of Oz
Date Sunday 13 December 2026
Performances 10.30am and 4pm
Venue Jubilee Theatre, Holmewood House School, Barrow Lane, Langton Green, TN3 0EB
Free tickets For community organisations, subject to availability
To ask for seats Email verity@pqacademy.com

The cast are students from the academy’s two local branches, and the show promises “colourful costumes, music, comedy, dancing and plenty of festive magic”, according to the academy.

Why the tickets are free

The idea is to put live theatre in front of children and families who might not otherwise see a Christmas show. Verity Rae Martin, the PQA principal, who says she has run performing arts academies across Kent for more than 15 years, said:

“Christmas is a time for giving, and we wanted to give something back to our local community.

“Theatre can be expensive for families, especially at Christmas. We believe every child should have the opportunity to experience the excitement and magic of live performance.

“Our students are incredibly excited to perform for the community, and it’s wonderful that they can use their talents to bring happiness to others.

“For some of our guests, this may be their very first experience of live theatre, and that makes it even more special.”

The academy says the giveaway is also meant to teach its own students about kindness, community spirit and using their creativity to make a difference.

What it means for you

If you run a community group, a charity, a youth club or a support group in the area and would like seats for one of the two performances, email the principal at verity@pqacademy.com with your group’s name and how many people would come. Tickets go to participating organisations while they last, so it is worth asking early: 132 of them had already been allocated by the time the academy announced the scheme on 10 November.

About the academy

PQA runs Saturday performing arts classes in Tunbridge Wells and at Mascalls Academy in Paddock Wood, covering Musical Theatre, Comedy and Drama, and Film and Television for children aged 4 to 18. Its Tunbridge Wells page gives the town’s base as Kent College Prep School, and its Paddock Wood page lists Leigh Academy Mascalls. Each Saturday session runs for three hours and mixes all three disciplines, the academy says.

For the town’s ticketed Christmas shows, Cinderella at the Assembly Hall Theatre and Elf The Musical at Trinity Theatre, see our Tunbridge Wells panto page.