Christmas Appeal
"I want to help more people access the thrill of live theatre."
This Christmas, we know what a cherished place the Marlowe Theatre is for many. It is a time when family and friends come together for their annual tradition, to make lasting memories and share in the magic of panto.
Not everyone has the same opportunity to have this experience, and we want to change that.
This is why we are launching the Marlowe Theatre’s first ever Christmas Appeal, to help people who face physical or financial barriers in sharing our love of live theatre, all year round.
Every donation, no matter the size could help us to:
Spread the joy of panto
It’s not Christmas without the Marlowe Theatre pantomime. We stream our award-winning pantomime for free into 128 care settings like children’s wards, hospices and care homes in Kent, reaching around 1,960 residents who are unable to travel to the theatre.
Grow our Discovery Ticket scheme
We pride ourselves in improving access to the theatre via our Discovery Tickets scheme, which offers £10 tickets for 16–26-year-olds visiting us independently. In 2023, we gave away £218,000 in discounts, making it one of the most generous schemes of its kind.
Ensure better accessibility
We are increasing our capacity to offer a wider programme of Access Enhanced performances (British Sign Language, Captioned, Audio Described and Relaxed performances) for audiences with access needs. In 2023 14,000 tickets were purchased with an access discount, a rise of 161% on the year before.
What your donation could support
£3 A child to have access to our streamed pantomime during their hospital stay.
£10 An hour of assistance dog-sitting while the owner is enjoying a show.
£25 Subsidises a schools ticket for a young person visiting the theatre for the first time.
£50 A comfy bean bag chair for our chill out zone during Relaxed Performances.
£100 The cost of 15 subsidised tickets for our disabled customers.
£300 The cost of a headset and receiver used by hearing impaired audience members, ensuring they get an enhanced experience.
£800 The cost of a British Sign Language Interpreter for one performance at the Marlowe Theatre. Making the theatre accessible to the Deaf community.
The Marlowe Theatre is an independent theatre run by a charitable trust. We receive no public subsidy, our funding relies on box office sales, our bars and restaurants and our generous supporters.
