Dawn O’Porter champions local theatres ahead of Kenton fundraiser

Bestselling author, broadcaster and podcaster Dawn O’Porter has spoken about the importance of protecting local theatres ahead of her special fundraising evening at The Kenton this Monday.

An Evening with Dawn O’Porter takes place on Monday 15 June at 7.30pm, raising vital funds to support The Kenton, one of the UK’s oldest working theatres and a much-loved part of Henley’s cultural life.

Ahead of the event, Dawn reflected on why historic theatres like The Kenton still matter.

“The history of a place is what makes it special, especially in the arts,” she said. “Endless performances are soaked up into those walls, creating an atmosphere that will inspire people for years to come.”

The evening will see Dawn in conversation about her new book, Hungry Eyes: A Memoir of Appetite, Ambition and the Odd Bag of Wotsits for Dinner, an honest, funny and deeply personal exploration of food, family, ambition, identity and the stories we carry around the table.

Speaking about the book, Dawn said: “I find food extremely emotive. It’s not just what I eat; it’s the connection to the people I eat it with. When looking back over my life, most of the significant moments have been attached to who was at the table with me.”

She added: “I thought that was worth exploring. The power of food. Not only in that it keeps us alive, but that it feeds our souls like nothing else can.”

The event also comes at an important moment for The Kenton, which continues to rely on audiences, donors, volunteers and supporters to help protect its future.

Dawn said: “It’s so important to get off your sofa and devices and get out. Nothing beats the energy of a crowd, and the communal energy of watching something in real time is good for the soul.”

She added: “It would be really sad if one day you fancied a night out and all of the good places had shut down because people stopped going. I don’t think that’s the future anyone wants. We have a responsibility to support our local venues.”

As well as supporting The Kenton’s future, the evening will celebrate the power of live events and shared experiences.

“What you will never get from a screen is the feeling of intimacy and a shared moment,” Dawn said. “Something you only got to see if you were in the room when it happened.”

The Kenton is also developing its work with young people through the launch of Kenton Youth this September, a new youth theatre programme for ages 9 to 16.

Dawn said theatre can play an important role in helping young people build confidence and creativity.

“It’s so important for kids to express themselves in supportive and non-competitive environments,” she said. “To get their faces away from screens and learn how to walk into rooms confidently and express themselves.”

An Evening with Dawn O’Porter takes place at The Kenton Theatre on Monday 15 June at 7.30pm. Tickets are £20.

Every ticket sold helps support The Kenton.