Dear Zoo live on stage cancels Kent dates in Folkestone and Maidstone following truck theft

The producers behind Dear Zoo Live on Stage have been forced to cancel their Kent dates following the theft of the show's truck, costumes and props.

The vehicle belonging to the touring production was stolen in Peterborough at the weekend.

Dear Zoo was scheduled to perform at the Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone later this week and in Maidstone at The Hazlitt at the end of the month. Both Kent theatres said early on Monday that they were awaiting news as to whether performances could go ahead.

But the theatre company has now announced it will be forced to postpone all remaining dates until it can recover or replace the stolen equipment - estimated to be worth £50,000.

A statement on its facebook page alongside the hashtag #saveourzoo read: "Thank you to everyone for your support. It is with regret that we will be cancelling the remaining dates of our Spring/Summer tour. We will be back! Our dates in the autumn will be going ahead.

"Please keep an eye out on our social media platforms for new and rescheduled tour dates."

The Leas Cliff Hall has already announced plans to reschedule its planned shows for September.

In a statement on its facebook page it said: "You may have all seen on the news that devastatingly the Dear Zoo team had their truck stolen over the weekend. As a result we are having to postpone our date in Folkestone to September 18 and 19.

"Our box office team will be in touch with all of you that have already purchased about moving them where possible to the new date."

New dates for The Hazlitt in Maidstone which is run by Parkwood Theatres have yet to be announced.

To learn more about Dear Zoo, based on the popular children's book by Rod Campbell, click here.