The reopening of the Orchard Theatre in Dartford is expected to be pushed back by six months at a possible extra cost of about £11.6m.
The theatre closed in September 2023 after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) was found in its roof, and it was expected to be shut until at least May 2025.
Notes from a Dartford Borough Council cabinet meeting on Thursday say “further essential works have come to light that will require attention to ensure the building is fully safety compliant when it reopens.”
There will be a phased handover to Trafalgar Theatres beginning at the end of November 2026. Customers for shows that were planned to be back in the main auditorium have already been informed that their tickets have been moved to the temporary Orchard West Theatre.
The building is expected to be fully operational from the end of November, but residual works could still be being carried out until the end of December.
Although some elements of “design and implementation methodology” need to be confirmed, cost analysis shows an overall build cost of £28.4m – £11.6m more than previously allocated in February 2025.
