The Marlowe Bursary Award

The Marlowe Youth Company provides young people with life-enhancing opportunities to express themselves, boost their confidence, and develop skills in performing in a fun, inclusive and friendly environment.

The Marlowe Bursary Award, sponsored by property developer Paul Roberts, offers financial assistance to those who may face barriers to participation, so they can benefit from these enriching experiences.

Find out more about the Marlowe Theatre Youth Company here.

Who can apply?

• Young people between the ages of 7-17 living in Kent, with a genuine interest in performing, but for whom cost would be a barrier to joining the Marlowe Youth Company. Our application form will explain the factors we consider to determine if a young person is eligible for financial support.
• You can already be taking part in the Marlowe Youth Company and wish to re-join or be joining for the first time. You must be able to commit to taking part in Marlowe Youth Company activities for a full academic year. The next intake will cover September 2025 to July 2026.
• We recognise that financial challenges can intersect with other barriers to taking part in the arts and we are committed to making our Youth Company accessible and representative of our diverse society and region. We particularly welcome applications from young people who, either themselves or through their family, have experience of disability, being in care, a care giver or care leaver, refugee or asylum seeker, or a language other than English spoken at home, in addition to meeting financial hardship criteria. If you would like to contact us about accessibility in the Marlowe Youth Company, please email youngpeople@marlowetheatre.com or call 01227935778 to talk to a member of our Learning & Participation team.

How do I apply?

Applications are now open for the 2025-26 Marlowe Bursary Awards and will be open until Tuesday 15 July 2025 at 5pm. You can now download and complete our application form here. There are paper copies of the form at our Box Office if you prefer this option.

Completed forms (along with any extra material such as a video response) can be emailed to youngpeople@marlowetheatre.com.

Applications can also be posted to:
The Marlowe Award Scheme
The Marlowe, The Friars
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 2AS

Or delivered in person at the Marlowe Theatre’s Stage Door in an envelope marked ‘The Marlowe Award Scheme’. Please double check all your contact details are correct so we can respond to your application.

Good luck and many thanks for your interest in the Marlowe Theatre Youth Company.

If you will be 14 or over in September 2025, please note that we have two options for different groups you could join. Check the descriptions on the creative classes page and think about which one suits you best. If you are interested in joining the Performance Ensemble, you will need to complete an additional application form, attend a workshop, and be selected for this group.