DIRTY DANCING Coming to Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury Next Month

THE SMASH-hit musical Dirty Dancing comes to The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, next month (August).

The much-loved characters and original dialogue from the 1987 film (with extra scenes) and the dance sequences - with some new choreography - come alive on stage. It is all set to an unforgettable soundtrack, including Do You Love Me?, Hungry Eyes, and the Academy Award-winning (I've Had) The Time Of My Life, plus more songs that weren't on the original recording. Both the stage and screen versions of Dirty Dancing were written by Eleanor Bergstein.

Jessie Hart will join the record-breaking tour to star as the idealistic Baby Houseman. Jessie recently graduated from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, and has since played Agnes in the ITV drama Arthur And George and the lead role of Gerda in The Snow Queen (Nuffield Theatre).

Lewis Kirk will be starring as Johnny Castle, one of the most iconic roles in popular culture. Lewis, who started his Dirty Dancing journey as a member of the 2014/15 touring company, was previously seen on tour around the UK in Hairspray and has also appeared in Our House 10th Anniversary Concert (Savoy) and in the world premiere of Soho Cinders (Soho).

Also joining the cast are Lori Haley Fox as Marjorie Houseman, Georgina Castle as Lisa Houseman, Kane Verrall as Neil Kellerman and Matthew Colthart as Billy Kostecki. Albey Brookes will also be joining the ensemble.

The first UK tour of Dirty Dancing, which launched in 2011, took an unprecedented £42,000,000 at theatres across the country, received standing ovations and five-star reviews, and smashed box office records. In 2013, Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage returned to the West End and played at the Piccadilly Theatre in London for a limited season, prior to launching the current UK and Ireland tour.

The show has recently enjoyed huge success in Europe; after a sell-out season in Vienna, Austria, the show continued to tour in German speaking-territories. A new French-language production wowed audiences in France and, having opened in Paris in January 2015 for a sell-out run, the production has since embarked on an arena tour of major French cities. The show has also recently re-opened in Melbourne, prior to a new Australian tour marking the tenth anniversary of the original stage show.

Dirty Dancing originally opened at London's Aldwych Theatre in 2006 with a record-breaking advance of £15 million, making it the fastest selling show in West End theatre history. The production became the longest running show in the history of the Aldwych Theatre and played to more than two million people during its triumphant five-year run. A hit show all around the world, Dirty Dancing has previously played in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and South Africa, consistently breaking box office records.

Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage is at The Marlowe Theatre from Tuesday 4 to Saturday 22 August (various performance times). Tickets, priced from £29.50 to £52 (concessions available; booking fee applies) are from the Box Office on 01227 787787 or marlowetheatre.com.

Photo by Tristram Kenton