12 November 2026
The Orchard Theatre is making a triumphant return, already taking £2 million at the box office, with more than 50,000 tickets snapped up, ahead of its reopening this December.
This heralds an exciting new chapter for one of the South East’s most well-loved theatres as Trafalgar Entertainment prepares to reopen the doors of a transformed and better-than-ever Orchard Theatre.
Demonstrating the appetite for live entertainment and the enduring importance of regional theatre, this overwhelming support shows just how much audiences have missed The Orchard Theatre.
Audiences will be welcomed back – after a state of the art £28.4 million refurbishment – with a season featuring some of the biggest names in British entertainment and the West End’s most-celebrated shows.
The Orchard Theatre, which has been at the heart of Kent’s cultural life for more than four decades, temporarily closed in September 2023 due to the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in the roof.
Three years later and following an extensive renovation project the theatre will reopen on Saturday 12 December, with the nation’s favourite pantomime of Cinderella, starring family favourite comedy legend Joe Pasquale and featuring a breathtaking, digitally animated set.
Sir Howard Panter, Founder and Joint CEO of Trafalgar Entertainment, said: “The reopening of The Orchard Theatre is a hugely exciting moment for Dartford and for live theatre. Theatres are at the heart of their communities, creating shared experiences, inspiring audiences and bringing people together. It is vital that this theatre continues to thrive, giving audiences access to outstanding live entertainment on their doorstep. I’m delighted to see The Orchard Theatre entering this new chapter and look forward to seeing it once again buzzing with audiences.”
Councillor Jeremy Kite, Leader of Dartford Borough Council, said: “We are proud to have invested in The Orchard Theatre for audiences in Dartford and across the South East and also for future generations.
“Live entertainment and theatre encapsulates all human life and is so important for local communities which is why it was important to ensure Dartford continues to be a place where the arts and culture can thrive.”
The venue will bring the best of the West End to Dartford with an exceptional line-up of award-winning musicals, including the legendary and multi-award winning Blood Brothers (26-30 January), international smash hit Operation Mincemeat (23-27 February), irresistibly charming worldwide hit Singin’ in the Rain (16-20 March), seen by millions across the globe, the iconic Dirty Dancing (27 April-1 May), the global phenomenon Jersey Boys (10-14 August) and the showstopping sensation Chicago (25-30 October) – plus many more.
Some of comedy’s biggest names will also take centre stage with Alan Carr bringing his Have I Said Too Much? tour to The Orchard Theatre from 22-24 January, followed by Al Murray with All You Need Is Guv on 12 March and Jimmy Carr’s Killing Jokes on 5 May.
Music fans can look forward to rock legend Francis Rossi of Status Quo fame appearing on 25 April and Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra bringing their distinctive sound to Dartford on 12 June.
Families will be equally spoilt for choice, with much-loved children’s stories brought to life on stage including Dear Zoo Live (3-4 June) and Horrible Histories’ Horrible Henrys (5 September).
Front of house, there will be improved accessibility, a new foyer, fabulous new bars and even a sweet shop, while behind the scenes, there has been major investment in state-of-the-art technical infrastructure to enable the theatre to host the biggest and best touring productions direct from the West End and Broadway.
At a time when theatres across the country face increasing financial pressures, The Orchard Theatre’s reopening is a significant vote of confidence in live entertainment and the cultural life of the region.
For local audiences, it means the renaissance of a hugely popular venue which has proved to be the perfect home for musicals, theatre, live music and family shows. For The Orchard Theatre, it marks the beginning of an ambitious new era of bigger and better world-class entertainment.