The Marlowe Theatre is joining forces with Hamza Yassin to help endangered swifts
Tue 7 Jul 2026At the Marlowe Theatre we have partnered with Canterbury District Swifts, who are part of a passionate and proactive swift community in Kent, to install some swift boxes on our iconic building.
Swifts are incredible, iconic birds, which rely on buildings for nesting, but they are now red listed and considered endangered in the UK. This is partly due to buildings being refurbished and sealed up, and modern buildings now providing them with minimal opportunities to nest.
The new boxes on our building offer a way to help the birds nest safely, while being hidden mainly out of view at the top of the theatre.
Yassin, who is an advocate for the threatened species, officially ‘opened’ the boxes ahead of his recent show here. He posed with the boxes alongside members of the local swift group and two of our Team Green group, who are dedicated to working on green initiatives and improving sustainability within the theatre.
The cameraman and presenter previously filmed a dedicated colony of over 40 pairs of swifts on a residential street in Leeds to highlight the community effort to save them as part of his 2025 BBC series Hamza’s Hidden Wild Isles.
Ginny Wenban, of Canterbury District Swifts, says, “We were delighted when the Marlowe welcomed our request to install two triple swift boxes on their iconic building in Canterbury, especially as these stunning red-listed and endangered birds are seen screaming around this very part of the city.
“We were excited that we could combine the timing of this installation with Hamza’s visit. Hamza did a wonderful job of highlighting the plight of swifts – as well as the thrill of them – in his Hidden Wild Isles series last year.
“It’s been a privilege for us to have had the opportunity to meet with Hamza and ‘talk swifts’ and have him draw attention to “one of our most beloved summer visitors” (Hamza). Our work to conserve these fabulous birds will continue throughout Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay.”
Hamza Yassin says, “Swifts are remarkable birds who are one of our most endangered species. I was mesmerised by them while filming my 2025 BBC series, and I’m passionate about trying to protect these wonderful birds.
“I was delighted to not only perform my show at the Marlowe Theatre, but also take the opportunity to raise awareness about the threatened species during my visit to Kent last week. I think it’s brilliant that swift boxes have been installed at the theatre, and I hope that more buildings follow suit.”
Kimberley Sanders, Programming Manager and Team Green Lead at the Marlowe Theatre, says: “The work Canterbury District Swifts are doing to raise awareness of our declining local swifts population in Canterbury and surrounding areas is something we were very keen to support. We have a very passionate swift community in the local area, and we were delighted when they approached us to become a home for these wonderful birds.
“Working on green initiatives is something we are very passionate about here at the Marlowe Theatre, and something we take very seriously. We were delighted the installation synchronised so nicely with Hamza’s visit to the theatre, and we can’t think of a better person to have teamed up with to launch the boxes.”
The swift boxes will now remain on our theatre building for the foreseeable as efforts continue to protect the local swift species.