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News Town’s tourismbooms


A NEW report shows that the value of Maidstone’s visitor economy is now worth over £283million. Visit Kent research shows the total number of jobs supported by


tourismgrewby 8.3%to 5,909. Visits to the borough increased by 7.9% in 2017 to 4.5 million trips, with 4.1 million day trips and nearly half a million overnight stays. Despite the challenges presented by Brexit negotiations and wet


weather in early summer, the tourismrates remained healthy across the county in 2018. Chief executive of Visit Kent, DeirdreWells OBE, said: “Tourismis the


UK’s fastest growing service sector and these figures demonstrate the contribution our vital industrymakes to the economy of Kent. “With our stunning countryside,world-class heritage, and delicious lo-


cally sourced food and drink, it is no surprise that visitor numbers are increasing in districts likeMaidstone year on year.” Maidstone Borough Council tourism spokesman Cllr Paul Harper said:


“Visitors are continuing to discover our borough in increasing numbers. This is also great for local jobs and our economy. It's amazing howmany jobs are supported by tourism.”


Panto triumph for TheHazli


MAIDSTONE’S theatre, the Ha- zlitt, has enjoyed one of its most successfulpanto seasons, itsman- agement has revealed. The 350-seat venue in the heart


of the county town’s burgeoning “twilight economy” sold all but 10%of its ticket allocation. One of the big draws this year


was the star, Richard Blackwood, who joined the cast of Aladdin as theGenie of the Lamp. The actor had previously been a


mainstay in EastEnders before leaving theBBCsoap opera topur- sue new roles, including the cur- rent run of ITV prime time show, Dancing on Ice. Hazlitt general manager Martin


Cleverley said: “I am delighted that Aladdin proved to be a huge success for theHazlitt in 2018. “We sold 90% of the seats and


had sold out shows for the last 10 days of the run. We were able to welcome audiences, families and children to the venue, for some of themtheir first time.” A Hazlitt spokesman said the


collapse of a rival panto in the area onDecember 18 did little for ticket sales as the final third of the run was totally sold out. But the cast, crew and manage-


ment were happy to perform an extra show for anyone disap- pointed at not being able to see a panto. This showwas a sell-out. The Hazlitt will be staging


Beauty&TheBeast in 2019, but the big name will not be known for somemonths yet. Aspokesman added: “Most per-


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formers have a “betterment agree- ment” written into their contracts, so that they can take better offers should they come along. It is per- fectly normal in the industry. “But by May or June, when we


are ready to cast, this ismuch less likely to happen.” Aladdin also starred Elizabeth


Bright as Princess Jasmine, Alle- sandro Lubrano as Aladdin and Erina Lewis as Slave of theRing.A big hit with the crowd was Kivan Dene who played the hilariously campAbanazar. DUE to the successful develop- ment of the Hazlitt Theatre and Exchange Studio, general man- ager Martin Cleverley has been appointed a consultant for The Castle Theatre,Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, to help its in- tegration into the Parkwood The- atres’s group.


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