Dawn O’Porter brings warmth and wit to Kenton fundraiser

Dawn O’Porter evening raises £1,477.92 for The Kenton’s historic building

The Kenton Theatre was full of warmth, wit and brilliant conversation as author and broadcaster Dawn O’Porter joined audiences for a special fundraising evening in support of the theatre’s Grade II listed building.

The event raised £1,477.92, with funds going towards the ongoing care and maintenance of The Kenton’s historic home on New Street.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Kenton Trustee Fiona Sanderson, Dawn spoke about life, writing, food, family, memory and the stories that shape us. The evening was followed by audience questions and a lively book signing, with 40 books sold on the night through The Bell Bookshop.

Dawn was interviewed by Fiona Sanderson, whose own connection with The Kenton began in childhood when she attended Flavia Pickworth’s Kenton Theatre Children’s Group. Fiona later trained in dance and drama at the Arts Educational School in London before building a distinguished career in television and film as a business leader, journalist and filmmaker. She was elected a Kenton Trustee in July 2023.

The evening was also warmly reviewed by Experience Henley, which described Dawn as “warm, witty, intelligent and wonderfully down-to-earth” and said the intimacy of The Kenton provided the perfect setting for an evening that was “insightful, funny and deeply human.”

The Kenton is hugely grateful to Dawn O’Porter for giving her time so generously, to Fiona Sanderson for leading such a thoughtful conversation, to HarperCollins for its support, and to The Bell Bookshop for joining the event and selling books on the night.

Most of all, The Kenton would like to thank everyone who bought a ticket and supported the evening.

Every ticket sold helps care for The Kenton’s Grade II listed building, protecting this much-loved theatre for audiences, artists and the wider community.

As one of the country’s oldest working theatres, The Kenton has been part of Henley life for generations. Fundraising events like this help ensure it remains open, active and welcoming for the generations still to come.