Dirty Dancing at a glance

Show
Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage
Venue
Prince Edward Theatre, West End
Address
28 Old Compton Street, London W1D 4HS
Nearest station
Leicester Square or Tottenham Court Road
Genre
Stage adaptation of the 1987 film, with 35 songs
Running time
About 2 hours 15 minutes
Age guidance
14+
Dates
19 January – 24 April 2027 (15-week season)
Price range
From £30 (typically £30–£180)
Writer
Eleanor Bergstein
Director
Federico Bellone
Choreographer
Austin Wilks

Our Take: Dirty Dancing at the Prince Edward Theatre

4.2
★★★★★

LTH Anticipation Rating

Written by the London Theatre Hub editorial team. Last updated: 26 October 2026. This is an editorial anticipation rating — the production had not opened in London when we wrote this, and we will review it after it opens.

What to expect

Dirty Dancing on stage does exactly what its full title promises: it tells the classic story. Eleanor Bergstein, who wrote the 1987 film, adapted it herself, keeping the dialogue and the famous moments — carrying a watermelon, "Nobody puts Baby in a corner", the final dance — alongside 35 songs from the film. It first opened at the Aldwych Theatre in 2006 and ran there for five years, and it has returned to London regularly since.

It doesn't try to be anything other than a loving recreation of the film. What it offers is the music, the dancing and a room full of people who know every line. This season was originally planned for the new Capital Theatre at Westfield London; after that venue's opening was postponed, the production moved to the Prince Edward for fifteen weeks only. Our rating is an anticipation rating — we will review it after it opens.

What Makes It Special

  • The film, faithfully. Written by the film's screenwriter, Eleanor Bergstein, with the original dialogue intact.
  • 35 songs. Including Hungry Eyes, Hey Baby, Do You Love Me? and (I've Had) The Time of My Life.
  • A familiar Johnny. Michael O'Reilly returns to the role after playing it in Paris, the West End and on a UK tour.
  • A new Baby. Pippa Jackson makes her professional stage debut in the role.
  • Fifteen weeks only. A strictly limited West End season before Miss Saigon moves into the Prince Edward in May.

You'll love Dirty Dancing if you...

  • Love the 1987 film and know every line
  • Want a feel-good night out with friends
  • Enjoy dance-led shows with big pop and soul hits
  • Are planning a hen party or celebration
  • Prefer familiar stories to new writing

It might not be for you if you...

  • Want a reinvented or critically acclaimed musical
  • Are bringing children under 14
  • Prefer plays or intimate theatre
  • Dislike jukebox-style shows
  • Want a story you don't already know

Best for

  • Film fans
  • Groups of friends
  • Celebrations
  • Dance lovers
  • Nostalgia
  • Feel-good nights out

Not recommended for under-14s, or for audiences looking for a critics' musical.

Critical Reception

This season begins on 19 January 2027 and has not yet been reviewed. The stage show has drawn large audiences in London before: it ran for five years at the Aldwych Theatre after opening in 2006. We will add verified ratings for this production once they are published.

  • Original London run Aldwych Theatre, 2006, five years
  • 2027 season Reviews to follow

Source: official production announcements, September 2026.

Everything You Need to Know

What happens in Dirty Dancing?

It is the summer of 1963. Frances Houseman — known as Baby — is on holiday with her family at Kellerman's, a resort in the Catskill Mountains. She is clever, idealistic and about to start college.

Johnny Castle

At the resort, Baby is drawn into the world of the dance staff, and in particular Johnny Castle, the charismatic instructor from the wrong side of the tracks. When Johnny's dance partner Penny can no longer perform, Baby steps in, and has to learn the routine fast.

Growing up

Over the summer Baby falls in love, clashes with her father and discovers who she is. The story builds to the final dance and the most famous lift in film history.