What we do

The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury is one of the UK’s most successful large-scale regional theatres (UK Theatre of the Year in the Stage Awards 2022). Our mission is to be the engine house for the performing arts in Kent, shaping the spirit of our region.

We bring West End musicals, national companies, a symphony orchestra season and high-profile tours to Kent audiences, in a year-round programme of theatre, dance, opera, music and comedy in our 1,200-seat main house. Next year we begin producing large-scale plays made in Kent and touring nationally. Our 150-seat Studio is dedicated to the development of new ideas, with a mix of R&D with resident and visiting companies, sharings and presented shows, plus a home-produced family show at Christmas.

Our ground-breaking work with young people focuses on skills development and includes co-delivery of a UAL Level 3 Performing Arts course with East Kent Colleges Group; being the national home of Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures’ Cygnet School and the RSC’s Associate Theatre in the South East. We recently launched our Writers Room, developing regional talent and supporting our producing aspirations. As the largest performing arts employer in the region, we are committed to developing the workforce of the future, providing apprenticeships and work experience opportunities for over 100 young people every year across all areas of theatre-making.

We are also fast outgrowing our spaces and developing major capital projects as a result, including turning the 800-year-old Poor Priests’ Hospital within the city walls into a Creative Learning Centre and free heritage destination, with support from Levelling Up and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. We are also looking towards the long-term development of our theatre building, increasing our technical and producing capacity.

Our investment in our loyalty strategy has ensured that we have consistently strong and engaged audiences for our varied programme. We’ve also received recognition from our industry, winning a Stage Award for our innovative approach to supporting the theatre sector and a Workforce Award from UK Theatre for our investment in our People Plan, ensuring our high calibre team are rewarded and supported.

We are a Creative Green organisation and are committed to taking action on climate change and environmental sustainability.

Read our commitments to our audiences and communities, artists, staff and industry and the next generation.

The Marlowe Theatre is managed by The Marlowe Trust, registered charity no. 1179882.