From award-winning West End hits to much-loved family productions and classic musicals, there’s a varied programme confirmed across the year, with shows running from February through to November.
Here’s a look at some of the biggest productions confirmed for Dartford in 2026.
The Gruffalo’s Child
Where: Orchard West, Dartford
When: February 17 – February 19, 2026
The much-loved children’s story The Gruffalo’s Child will arrive in Dartford as part of a UK tour by theatre company Tall Stories.
Based on the book by Julia Donaldson, the show follows the Gruffalo’s daughter as she ventures into the deep dark wood, ignoring her father’s warnings about the Big Bad Mouse.
Packed with songs, puppetry and humour, the production is aimed at younger audiences and families, with a runtime of just under an hour.
Operation Mincemeat
Where: Orchard Theatre, Dartford
When: October 12 – October 17, 2026
Olivier Award-winning musical Operation Mincemeat is set to come to Dartford following huge success in the West End and on tour.
Written by comedy theatre company SpitLip, the musical tells the extraordinary true story of a daring Second World War deception plan involving a stolen corpse and a briefcase of fake documents designed to mislead Nazi forces.
The show is well-known for its fast-paced storytelling, sharp humour and multi-role cast, mixing historical drama with comedy.
Jersey Boys
Where: Orchard Theatre, Dartford
When: November 2 – November 7, 2026
The Tony Award-winning musical Jersey Boys will join Dartford as part of a major UK tour.
The show tells the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, charting their rise from the streets of New Jersey to international fame, alongside the personal struggles that threatened to tear the group apart.
The show will feature famous hits Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk Like a Man and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, bringing one of the most successful jukebox musicals to Dartford.
High Society
Where: Orchard Theatre, Dartford
When: November 17 – November 21, 2026
Classic musical High Society will round off the Orchard Theatre’s 2026 programme with a glamorous Cole Porter production.
Based on The Philadelphia Story, the musical centres on socialite Tracy Lord as she prepares for her wedding, only for her plans to unravel when former lovers and journalists re-enter her life.
The production features a score packed with Porter classics including I Love Paris, True Love and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, and stars Call the Midwife actor Helen George as Tracy Lord.
