Home   What's On   News   Article

The King and I musical returns to Kent for five nights at the Orchard Theatre in Dartford

After a glowing opening night in Kent last month, an award-winning musical is returning to the county.

The King and I kicked off opening night at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, and will now be delighting audiences at the Orchard Theatre in Dartford.

The King and I, starring Helen George, is coming to Dartford. Picture: Johan Persson
The King and I, starring Helen George, is coming to Dartford. Picture: Johan Persson

The national tour will be at the Dartford theatre for five nights from Tuesday, April 4 to Saturday, April 8.

You can book tickets online here.

The show, which our reporter described as "flawless and beautiful" during its opening week, stars Call the Midwife’s Helen George.

Helen, who is best known for playing Trixie Franklin in the BBC drama, will star as Anna Leonowens in this touring production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic.

“Anna is such a strong, passionate and determined character, and I’m going to relish bringing her to life every night,” says the 38-year-old actor. “Theatre is my first love, and I am so excited to be returning to the stage for this beautiful, majestic production of the King and I.”

The Call the Midwife star is no stranger to Kent and is often filming at the Chatham Dockyard. Picture: Hugo Glendinning
The Call the Midwife star is no stranger to Kent and is often filming at the Chatham Dockyard. Picture: Hugo Glendinning

Helen trained at the Royal Academy of Music and the Birmingham School of Acting before joining the cast of Call the Midwife, which is partially filmed at the Historic Dockyard Chatham, in 2012.

The TV star briefly swapped the hospital ward for the dancefloor in 2015 as she competed in the thirteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing. She finished in sixth place with her partner Aljaž Škorjanec.

Set in 1860s Bangkok, the musical follows an unconventional relationship between the King of Siam and Anna, a British schoolteacher who has been brought to the kingdom to teach the King’s wives and children.

The story follows the King of Siam and schoolteacher Anna as they meet in 1860s Bangkok. Picture: Johan Persson
The story follows the King of Siam and schoolteacher Anna as they meet in 1860s Bangkok. Picture: Johan Persson

Helen will be joined on stage by Darren Lee, who has appeared in films such as Hackers with Angelina Jolie, Sisters with Tina Fey and Chicago with Catherine Zeta-Jones, as the King of Siam.

The King and I, based on Margaret Landon’s 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam, first made its Broadway debut in 1951 and has since toured the world.

It was also adapted into an Oscar-winning film in 1956, starring Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner.

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More