DIRTY DANCING announces West End dates and cast

Shehrazade Zafar-Arif 30 September, 2026, 12:41

Dirty Dancing will play a strictly limited 15-week West End season from January 2027 at the Prince Edward Theatre following the postponement of the new Capital Theatre's opening. Casting has also been revealed.

Pippa Jackson (Baby) & Michael O’Reilly (Johnny). Photo by Michael Wharley

The cast will be led by Michael O’Reilly (West Side Story, Lord of the Flies), who returns to the role of Johnny Castle following successful productions in Paris, the West End, and a UK tour, alongside Pippa Jackson in her professional stage debut as Baby Houseman. They are joined by Emily Layden-Fritz (CATS!, Let Me Entertain You) as Penny Johnson.

Based on the 1987 film starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, and written by the film's screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein, Dirty Dancing follows good girl Frances 'Baby' Houseman, who falls for working class dance instructor Johnny Castle at the resort where her family is vacationing. It features the original dialogue and 35 beloved songs from the film, including 'Hungry Eyes', 'Hey Baby, Do You Love Me?', and of course, '(I've Had) The Time of My Life'.

The rest of the creative team includes director and set designer Federico Bellone, choreographer Austin Wilks, music supervisor Richard John, lighting designer Valerio Tiberi, sound designer Chris Whybrow, associate director Juliet Gough, costume designer Jennifer Irwin, and casting director Harry Blumenau CDG CSA.

Dirty Dancing will play at the Prince Edward Theatre from 19 January to 24 April 2027.

Dirty Dancing Tickets