If your ‘feel good’ needs topping up, then get yourselves to the New Theatre Oxford this week for a dose of Dirty Dancing.
The musical opened in Oxford on Tuesday 6 October to a fantastic reaction from the audience, who, like us, seemed to enjoy every second.
The award-winning, iconic movie of the same name may seem like a hard act to follow, but this musical certainly doesn’t disappoint.
We had a fabulous evening reliving the story, the music, the dancing and the classic one-liners, including ‘I carried a watermelon’, ‘spaghetti arms’ and, of course, the ultimate crowd-pleaser: ‘Nobody puts Baby in the corner’.
And judging by the standing ovation at the end, we weren’t the only ones who thought it was fabulous.
Back to Kellerman’s and the summer of 1963
For anyone who doesn’t know the story off by heart, Dirty Dancing takes us back to the summer of 1963 at Kellerman’s holiday resort in New York’s Catskill Mountains.
Seventeen-year-old Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman is there with her parents and older sister for the summer break, but she has little interest in the usual resort activities.
That changes when she discovers an all-night dance party in the staff quarters.
Mesmerised by the raunchy dance moves and pounding rhythms, Baby is desperate to be part of this very different world, particularly when she catches sight of Johnny Castle, the resort’s dance instructor.
Their meeting changes her life forever.
Set to some classic tunes including Hungry Eyes, Hey! Baby and Do You Love Me?, the familiar love story of Baby and Johnny is brought to life with plenty of energy, romance, dancing and, inevitably, a few tears and tantrums.
Directed by Federico Bellone, who also designed the set, Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage features choreography by Austin Wilks and combines familiar recordings from the film soundtrack with live performances by the cast.
A strong cast, with Charlie Varlet stealing the show as Baby
Joel Benjamin was coolness itself as Johnny Castle. He had the muscles, the dance moves and that all-important bad-boy persona.
Ellie Fergusson was great as dancer Penny Johnson, who seemed to have the most flexible limbs we had ever seen, while India Chadwick played Lisa Houseman to a tee.
Robert Grose, as Tito Suarez, was a fantastic singer, and he certainly had the moves.
Asher Forth as Billy Kostecki and Mimi Rodrigues-Alves as Elizabeth also deserve a mention for their singing, which was excellent.
But for us, the star of the show was Charlie Varlet as Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman, who absolutely stole the show.
She epitomised the movie character, from Baby’s famously flat-footed dancing to her hilarious facial expressions, sheer naivety and, of course, that amazing show-finishing lift.
The role also marks Varlet’s theatre tour debut.
A joyous finale and a well-deserved standing ovation
And then there was the finale.
That last dance, as Johnny and the cast take over the farewell show, sent shivers down our spines. It was joyous, and exactly the feel-good ending we had hoped for.
Dirty Dancing is at Oxford’s New Theatre until Saturday 10 October 2026. For more information and tickets, visit the official New Theatre Oxford booking page.
At a glance: Dirty Dancing at New Theatre Oxford
| Production | Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage |
| Venue | New Theatre Oxford, George Street, Oxford, OX1 2AG |
| Oxford run | Tuesday 6 to Saturday 10 October 2026 |
| Friday 9 October | Performances at 5pm and 8.30pm |
| Saturday 10 October | Performances at 2.30pm and 7.30pm |
| Running time | ATG lists two hours and 13 minutes, including an interval |
| Age guidance | Recommended for ages 14 and over. Under-16s must sit next to an accompanying adult aged 18 or over. Under-fives are not admitted. |
| Tickets | Check available seats, prices and booking charges through ATG. |
Content information: Sexual references and an abortion storyline. The production uses haze and brief strobe lighting.
Accessibility: See the New Theatre accessibility guide for wheelchair seating, hearing support and essential companion booking information.
Dirty Dancing: full UK and Ireland tour dates for 2026–27
Beyond Oxford, Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage continues its UK and Ireland tour, with performances scheduled through to June 2027.
The dates below include the earlier engagements for reference, with completed runs marked. This review reflects the Oxford opening-night performance on 6 October 2026; casting may change during the tour.
2026 tour dates
| Dates | Town or city | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 25–29 August 2026 | Milton Keynes | Milton Keynes Theatre (run finished) |
| 1–5 September 2026 | Liverpool | Liverpool Empire (run finished) |
| 8–19 September 2026 | Blackpool | Opera House, Winter Gardens (run finished) |
| 22–26 September 2026 | Sunderland | Sunderland Empire (run finished) |
| 29 September–3 October 2026 | Manchester | Palace Theatre (run finished) |
| 6–10 October 2026 | Oxford | New Theatre |
| 13–17 October 2026 | Glasgow | King’s Theatre |
| 20–24 October 2026 | Cardiff | Wales Millennium Centre |
| 27–31 October 2026 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh Playhouse |
| 10–14 November 2026 | Hull | Hull New Theatre |
| 24–28 November 2026 | Stoke-on-Trent | Regent Theatre |
2027 tour dates
| Dates | Town or city | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 6–9 January 2027 | Sheffield | Lyceum Theatre |
| 12–16 January 2027 | Norwich | Theatre Royal |
| 19–23 January 2027 | Birmingham | The Alexandra |
| 26–30 January 2027 | Bradford | Alhambra Theatre |
| 2–6 February 2027 | Aberdeen | His Majesty’s Theatre |
| 9–13 February 2027 | Newcastle upon Tyne | Theatre Royal |
| 16–20 February 2027 | Truro | Hall for Cornwall |
| 2–13 March 2027 | Dublin | Bord Gáis Energy Theatre |
| 16–20 March 2027 | Cork | Cork Opera House |
| 23–27 March 2027 | Derry | Millennium Forum |
| 30 March–10 April 2027 | Belfast | Grand Opera House |
| 13–17 April 2027 | Wimbledon, London | New Wimbledon Theatre |
| 26 April–1 May 2027 | Dartford | Orchard Theatre |
| 4–8 May 2027 | Wolverhampton | Grand Theatre |
| 11–15 May 2027 | Bournemouth | Pavilion Theatre |
| 18–22 May 2027 | Leeds | Grand Theatre |
| 25–29 May 2027 | Eastbourne | Congress Theatre |
| 1–5 June 2027 | Leicester | Curve |
| 8–12 June 2027 | Manchester | Palace Theatre |
Birmingham’s dates follow ATG’s venue listing, which advertises performances from 19 January. The producer’s tour page gives an earlier start of 18 January, so check the venue’s booking calendar before making travel arrangements.
For individual venue booking links and additions to the schedule, visit the official Dirty Dancing UK and Ireland tour page.
Performance times, ticket prices, concessions and accessible performances vary between theatres. Check the relevant venue’s listing rather than assuming the Oxford arrangements apply throughout the tour.
Tour information checked on 9 October 2026. Dates and casting are subject to change; inclusion in the schedule does not guarantee ticket availability.
