Josef Brown (right) also starred as Johnny Castle in the Australian version

More than 240,000 tickets have been sold for the London stage version of the 1987 film starring Patrick Swayze.

The show, which broke Australian box office records, previews from Friday at London's Aldwych Theatre and will have its official premiere on 24 October.

Producers have installed an extra 25 seats to allow an additional 1000 tickets to go on sale later this week.

Soundtrack success

The original film, co-starring Jennifer Grey, followed a teenage girl who falls in love with a dance instructor during a family holiday.

The soundtrack to the hit film sold 41m copies.

Screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein has adapted her own script for the stage show.

Rada graduate Georgina Rich plays Frances "Baby" Houseman opposite Josef Brown, as Johnny Castle. Rich made her West End debut opposite Diana Rigg and Martin Jarvis earlier this year.

The extra tickets will go on sale on at the box office from noon on Friday.