Roald Dahl's much-loved tale, Fantastic Mr Fox, is set to come to the Kent stage as part of a new production marking the centenary of his birth.

The announcement that the new musical adaptation will visit Dartford's Orchard Theatre comes on Roald Dahl Day, Tuesday, September 13.

It will visit Dartford as one of only 18 dates nationally in 2017, after its world premiere at the Nuffield Theatre in Southampton over Christmas.

The new musical family show is a flagship production for the Roadl Dahl 100 celebrations and is a playful re-telling of Dahl’s witty tale of the clever Mr Fox outfoxing three greedy farmers.

The centenary year has already seen the release of Steven Spielberg’s movie version of The BFG, with Ashford-born actor Mark Rylance in the led role, while actor George Clooney provided the voice for Fantastic Mr Fox in the Oscar-nominated movie version released in 2009.

Luke Kelly, Roald Dahl's grandson and director of the Roald Dahl Literary Estate: “We’re excited to be working with such an accomplished partner as Nuffield Theatre to bring Fantastic Mr Fox to the stage in this brand new musical version."

The show is produced by Nuffield and Curve in association with Lyric Hammersmith and will be at the Orchard from Tuesday, February 28 to Sunday, March 5, 2017. Tickets are £22.50, and £17.50 for under 16s and are now on sale. To book visit orchardtheatre.co.uk or go to fantasticmrfoxlive.com