Over recent months, Dartford Borough Council has delivered major improvements to the Orchard Theatre, including the full removal of RAAC concrete from the roof, upgrades to key areas of the building, and enhanced accessibility for customers. This has been a substantial and highly technical programme and, although the scale of the work has resulted in it taking longer than originally thought, it ensures the theatre will be future-proofed for many years to come.
With many complex elements now complete and a clear programme of remaining works over the coming months, the Council is preparing for a phased handover to Trafalgar Theatres – the venues division of global live entertainment company, Trafalgar Entertainment – at the end of November 2026, with all safety systems fully operational. Some final works will continue into December as the venue moves towards full readiness, but we can now confirm that the Orchard Theatre will reopen with our magical family pantomime Cinderella on Saturday 12 December 2026 with star casting to be announced soon.
Following a meeting of Dartford’s Cabinet on Thursday 22 January, a capital project budget of up to £11.6m has been approved to complete the essential works to the Orchard Theatre, and £330,000 to allow Orchard West to continue providing theatrical performances for Dartford until September this year. The multi-award-winning temporary theatre, opened in 2023, has enabled performances to continue during the works, maintained Dartford’s cultural offer, and safeguarded local theatre-related employment.
To support a smooth handover, a small number of upcoming performances will need to be cancelled. Trafalgar Theatres will contact all affected customers directly.
Jeremy Kite, Leader of Dartford Borough Council, said:
“We’re delighted to be moving into the final stage of this project. Work on our beloved Orchard Theatre has turned into a marathon, not a sprint, but it was essential to address every issue that we’ve encountered, so that we can have a wonderful facility that will serve this town for years ahead. Thank you to residents and theatre-goers for their patience — we’re getting very close to welcoming audiences back later this year.”
Helen Enright, CEO Trafalgar Theatres, said:
“We’re excited to be working towards taking back the keys to the Orchard Theatre and bringing the full range of live entertainment including large scale musicals back to its traditional home in Dartford. The Orchard Theatre is an important part of the community, and we can’t wait to reopen with an outstanding programme, including our much-loved pantomime season. A heartfelt thank you to our customers for their continued support, patience, and understanding, while we’ve been operating Orchard West for the last three years. We look forward to a bright future in our newly enhanced Orchard Theatre which will secure live entertainment in Dartford for many years to come.”