Christopher Marlowe was born in Canterbury in 1564, and for a few years he was arguably the biggest playwright in England, good enough that people believe Shakespeare was greatly influenced by him.
He died at twenty-nine, stabbed in a Deptford tavern under circumstances nobody has ever fully explained. Canterbury’s tribute is a theatre bearing his name, sitting on the river a few minutes’ walk from the cathedral.
It’s the perfect place to visit during a stay at Broome Park, only around fifteen to twenty minutes down the road.
A Few Buildings, One Name
There’s been a Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury in one form or another since 1949, on a site that started out as a small pre-war theatre before a spell as a cinema.
The building closed for redevelopment in 2009, and Canterbury City Council rebuilt it from scratch on the same spot. The new Marlowe Theatre then opened in October 2011 with a gala performance attended by the Earl of Wessex.
It was designed by Keith Williams Architects, cost around £26 million.
Inside the Theatre
The main house seats 1,200 across three levels, and no seat is more than 25 metres from the stage. A second space, the Marlowe Studio, seats 150 and is used mainly for youth theatre and new work. The Marlowe has sold more than four million tickets since it reopened, and was named UK Theatre of the Year in 2022.
What’s On
The Marlowe gets many of the same major productions that play the West End before or after their London run, alongside opera, comedy, live music and its own pantomime each Christmas.
Programming changes constantly, so it’s worth checking what’s actually on before you book rather than assuming a particular show will still be running.
Before You Go
There’s no real dress code. Most people come in whatever they’d wear to dinner beforehand. Popular shows do sell out, especially around Christmas, so it’s worth booking ahead if there’s something specific you want to see.
Getting There from Broome Park
The theatre is around fifteen to twenty minutes by car from Broome Park, in the same part of the city centre as the cathedral. If you’re going for an evening performance, it’s worth knowing that Canterbury’s Park & Ride buses generally stop running in the early evening so a central car park or taxi is the simpler option.
An Evening Out
The theatre sits right on the river, a few minutes’ walk from the cathedral, which makes the two easy to combine into one day in the city. Plenty of our guests do the cathedral in the afternoon, a show in the evening, and come back to Broome Park for a late dinner or a nightcap at the bar.
Check out our guide of things to do in Canterbury for more information.
FAQs
What kind of shows are on at the Marlowe Theatre?
The Marlowe Theatre hosts major touring drama, musicals, opera, comedy and live music, along with its own Christmas pantomime. It was named UK Theatre of the Year in 2022.
How far is the Marlowe Theatre from Broome Park?
The Marlowe Theatre is around fifteen to twenty minutes by car from Broome Park.
Is there parking near the Marlowe Theatre?
There are central car parks near the Marlowe Theatre, though Canterbury’s Park & Ride buses generally stop running in the early evening, so they’re less useful if you’re going to an evening performance.
