Plays and musicals to see in Kent in 2024, including Jesus Christ Superstar, Come From Away and The Woman in Black
From Hollywood romances to nail-biting horror, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of live theatre.
Luckily, there are plenty of incredible shows, including musical revivals, gripping plays and on-stage classics, coming to Kent in 2024, so get booking your tickets now…
An Officer and a Gentleman
If you’re a hopeless romantic then you won’t want to miss this ‘80s blockbuster as it comes to the stage. The musical is based on the 1982 film starring Richard Gere and includes a talented cast that have, collectively, appeared in shows such as The Osmonds, Billy Elliot and Grease. The show has a feel-good jukebox soundtrack of pop anthems including the Grammy Award-winning song (Love Lift Us) Up Where We Belong.
Details: Monday, May 20 to Saturday, May 25 at the Orchard West Theatre; Tuesday, July 9 to Saturday, July 13 at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury; and Monday, October 28 to Saturday, November 2 at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley. Book tickets here.
Come From Away
This uplifting musical based on a real story has been showered with accolades since its London debut in 2019 and is set to take off on its first UK tour in the new year. The show, which has received four Olivier Awards and a Tony Award, shares the story of the 7,000 air passengers who were grounded in a small Canadian town in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. The characters are played by a handful of actors who chop and change roles throughout the show to portray both the passengers and townspeople whose lives are forever changed.
Details: Tuesday, November 12 to Saturday, November 16 at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury. Book tickets here.
Hairspray
It’s been eight long years since this fun-filled show has come to Canterbury. However, this summer the swinging sixties will return to Kent with upbeat music, dazzling dance routines and larger-than-life characters in Hairspray. The musical follows Tracy Turnblad, a teenager who is determined to change the face of television and win the heart of teen idol Link Larkin, and is based on John Waters’ 1988 film.
Details: Tuesday, August 6 to Saturday, August 10 at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury. Book tickets here.
Jesus Christ Superstar
One of the most talked-about musical albums in history is being revived for a breath-taking, heart-stopping nationwide tour. After the show was rejected in the 1960s, composers Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice released the music to Jesus Christ Superstar as a rock ‘n’ roll concept album, which was met with critical acclaim and prompted its Broadway debut in 1971. The latest adaptation received an Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival in 2017 and features much-loved numbers such as I Don’t Know How to Love Him and Gethsemane. Actor and comedian Julian Clary will also appear as Herod at some dates during the tour.
Details: Monday, February 26 to Saturday, March 2 at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley; Monday, June 17 to Saturday, June 22 at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury; and Monday, July 22 to Saturday, July 27 at the Orchard West Theatre in Dartford. Book tickets here.
Pretty Woman
Starring former Love Island contestant and West End actress Amber Davies and Strictly champion Ore Oduba, this new adaptation of the Hollywood romance is sure to have hearts racing. The show is based on the 1990 film, which saw Julia Roberts and Richard Gere star as an unlikely couple, and features an original score by Grammy Award winners Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance. The musical is coming directly from the West End for its first UK tour next year.
Details: Monday, May 6 to Saturday, May 11 at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley; Tuesday, July 30 to Saturday, August 3 at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury; and Monday, August 26 to Saturday, August 31 at the Orchard West Theatre in Dartford. Book tickets here.
Sing The Musicals
Why choose one musical when you can see them all? Sing the Musicals brings together some of the biggest songs from the West End and Broadway, all performed by a live band, character singers and even the audience as a big screen will show sing-along lyrics to each number. For its first national tour, the show will feature music from Mamma Mia, Grease, Dirty Dancing, Les Misérables, the Rocky Horror Show, We Will Rock You and more.
Details: Saturday, April 27 at the Central Theatre in Chatham. Book tickets here.
Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch
This hilarious new musical parody is currently making its debut at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant in London for 10 weeks before heading out on tour next year. It stars Kent’s own River Medway, star of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, and tells the story of the Little Mermaid villain Ursula from a whole new perspective. It’s a funny, adult-only, tongue-in-cheek show with an original score, puppets and lots of drag-tastic jokes.
Details: Tuesday, March 19 to Saturday, March 23 at the Orchard West Theatre in Dartford and Tuesday, June 18 to Saturday, June 22 at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley. Book tickets here.
The Woman in Black
One of London’s scariest live shows is taking a break from the West End to bring chills and thrills to audiences across the country. The Woman in Black has been running for an incredible 33 years at the Fortune Theatre and is now hitting the road with mysterious illusions, cursed characters and a truly terrifying atmosphere. The show, adapted from Susan Hill's acclaimed ghost story, is the second-longest-running play in West End history and one of the most exciting horrors to ever be performed on stage.
Details: Tuesday, April 9 to Saturday, April 13 at the Orchard West Theatre in Dartford. Book tickets online.