Immerse yourself in a world of enchanting performances at The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, as it hosts a spectacular lineup of events. From the magical pantomime 'Beauty and the Beast' featuring Maisie Smith, to the vibrant musical 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' starring Joe McElderry, this season promises a captivating blend of drama, music, and festive cheer. With shows like 'Philharmonia Orchestra: Brass At Christmas' and the heartwarming 'Dear Evan Hansen,' there is something for everyone to enjoy. Join us for an unforgettable theatrical experience!

A Theatrical Feast: Upcoming Highlights at The Marlowe Theatre

The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury is set to host a series of enthralling events from musicals to orchestras, and comedy to dance, each showcasing diverse talents and captivating performances. The line-up includes the vibrant 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' featuring Joe McElderry, the poignant 'Dear Evan Hansen', and a live orchestral experience with the Philharmonia Orchestra. With performances spanning from classic plays to modern-day musicals and avant-garde dance, the theatre promises a rich cultural experience for all attendees.

Unveiling Canterbury's Cultural Tapestry: A Theatrical Journey at The Marlowe Theatre

Get ready for a cultural spectacular at The Marlowe Theatre this March! From Jazz Emu's musical extravaganza 'Knight Fever' to the avant-garde dance performance 'Dragons' by Eun-Me Ahn Dance Company, there's something for everyone. Witness the historical drama 'A Man for All Seasons', the comedic brilliance of 'The Shark is Broken', and the iconic musical 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'. With tribute performances from Ben Portsmouth as Elvis and Jason Donovan celebrating his illustrious career, the stage is set for unforgettable performances. And, don't miss the dance sensations Giovanni Pernice, Karen Hauer, and Gorka Marquez lighting up the floor.

March Marlowe Marvels: A Diverse Celebration of Arts and Culture

March through May 2025 promises to be an extraordinary season at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, UK. With a diverse array of performances, including Jason Donovan's vibrant tour, the sizzling dance showcase of Karen Hauer and Gorka Marquez, and a dynamic revival of 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,' audiences are in for a treat. Whether you're a fan of musicals, orchestral brilliance, or ballet's timeless elegance, this season encapsulates the heart of performing arts, promising unforgettable experiences for all.

A Kaleidoscope of Culture: Unveiling Marlowe Theatre's Spectacular Line-Up

The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury is set to host a stunning variety of performances throughout March and April 2025. From the legendary Ben Portsmouth's Elvis tribute to the enchanting ballet of Giovanni Pernice and the musical magic of Jason Donovan, there's something for everyone. Dance enthusiasts can look forward to Karen Hauer and Gorka Marquez's Speakeasy, and families will enjoy the classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. This season promises to be a vibrant celebration of music, dance, and theater, reaching a crescendo with orchestral performances and Shakespeare-inspired productions.

A Cultural Extravaganza: Unmissable Performances at The Marlowe Theatre

Direct from its triumph in the West End where it won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy, Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort Of) is a unique and audacious retelling of Jane Austen’s most iconic love story.

Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort of)

Marlowe Theatre

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake caused a sensation when it premiered almost 30 years ago. It has now become the most successful dance theatre production of all time, creating new audiences and inspiring generations of young dancers. In celebration of that ongoing impact, Swan Lake will take flight once more in a major new revival for the next generation of dancers, and for audiences who will experience it for the very first time.

Swan Lake

The first woman to conduct London’s Last Night of the Proms and to serve as the head of a major orchestra in Britain, the United States, South America and Austria, Marin Alsop is one of the most powerful and inspiring conductors of our time. We are lucky enough to witness Marin conduct as the Philharmonia’s Principal Guest Conductor in this wonderful concert full of iconic music.

Philharmonia Orchestra: Marin Alsop & Jeneba Kanneh-Mason

Italian composer, Vincenzo Bellini’s The Capulets and the Montagues (I Capuleti e i Montecchi) is a gritty re-working of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Loyalty and love are put to the test amidst political violence, set to exquisite ‘bel canto’ (literally meaning beautiful singing) operatic music that brings the story’s tragedy to the fore.

Bellini's The Capulets and the Montagues

Alongside The Capulets and the Montagues in our Main House, ETO continue to bring us a Shakespeare-inspired season with Shakespeare Songs, a collection of Shakespeare-inspired songs taking us through the centuries up to the present day.

Shakespeare Songs

Puck does. It’s been a while since A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Athens is changing. The forest is being chopped down, and as each tree vanishes, more magic disappears from the land. It’s time to find Oberon and Titania and restore the beauty of the forest.

The Vanishing Forest

The landmark, record-breaking television series Only Fools and Horses celebrates its 40th anniversary! Written by the late, great John Sullivan, the critically acclaimed home-grown British musical spectacular is the UK’s funniest show!

Only Fools and Horses the Musical

A brand-new production of this much-loved family favourite stars Liam Fox (Emmerdale) as Grandpa Potts. Directed by Thom Southerland (Titanic, Parade), choreographed by Karen Bruce (BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, The Bodyguard) and designed by Morgan Large (Newsies, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat), this ravishing award-winning musical is bursting with unforgettable songs by the Sherman Brothers including Toot Sweets, Hushabye Mountain, Truly Scrumptious and of course the Academy Award-nominated title song, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Mamba, Salsa, Charleston, Foxtrot, Salsa the night away with our electrifying cast of world class dance talent, vocalists and musicians.

Karen Hauer and Gorka Marquez: Speakeasy

Jason Donovan’s Doin’ Fine 25 tour, is a spectacular celebration of his remarkable career in music, theatre, film and TV. This exciting tour will take fans on a journey through 35 years of hits on stage and screen via Jason’s energetic and unique live performance style.

Jason Donovan: Doin' Fine 25

The 2021 Strictly champion and BAFTA winner will be taking to the stage once again with his company of world class performers.

Giovanni Pernice: The Last Dance

With global success in over 20 countries including sellout performances on the same Vegas stage as Elvis, to London’s West End, you won’t want to miss Ben Portsmouth: This is Elvis, at the Marlowe Theatre.

Ben Portsmouth: This is Elvis

FADE IN: The open ocean, 1974. Filming is delayed… again. The lead actors – theatre veteran Robert Shaw and young Hollywood hotshots Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider – are crammed into a too-small boat. Alcohol flows, egos collide, and tempers flare on a chaotic voyage that just might lead to cinematic magic… if it doesn’t sink them all.

The Shark is Broken

Robert Bolt’s classic play of power and conscience set in the Tudor Court of Henry VIII stars Martin Shaw as Sir Thomas More – scholar, ambassador, Lord Chancellor and friend to King Henry VIII. Above all, he is a man of integrity, loved by the common people and his own family.

A Man for all Seasons

Dragons by avant-garde South Korean choreographer Eun-Me Ahn brings together modern and traditional dance styles from across Asia.

Eun-Me Ahn Dance Company: Dragons

Musical supernova Jazz Emu will be bringing his brand-new show, Knight Fever, alongside his full live band, ‘The Cosmique Perfectión’ to the Marlowe Studio. Following his run at the Soho Theatre and Edinburgh Festival Fringe, this tour will feature brand new songs, and an appearance from the King himself.

Jazz Emu: Knight Fever

The Philharmonia’s impressive recording catalogue includes a huge variety of film scores – you’ve probably heard our players before at the cinema or on TV, without even realising. Tonight, we swap the screen for the stage in a concert showing off the versatility of our musicians.

Philharmonia Orchestra: Philharmonia At The Movies

Fresh from her victory as the winner of Britain’s Got Talent 2024, Sydnie Christmas is thrilled to announce the My Way Tour, her debut UK tour.

Sydnie Christmas: My Way Tour

In this brand new show, Lee shares his stage with a tough-talking werewolf comedian from the dark forests of North America who hates humanity. The Man-Wulf lays down a ferocious comedy challenge to the culturally irrelevant and physically enfeebled Lee. Can the beast inside us all be silenced with the silver bullet of Lee’s unprecedentedly critically acclaimed style of stand-up?

Stewart Lee Vs The Man-Wulf

Celebrating over 50 years since the formation of the legendary West Coast Country Rock band The Eagles in 1971, The Illegal Eagles make a welcome return to Canterbury with a brand-new production, promising more of their trademark musical prowess, acute attention to detail and incredible showmanship.

The Illegal Eagles

Meet Evan: an anxious high school kid who wants nothing more than to fit in. The thing is, on his way to fitting in, he didn’t tell the whole truth. And now must give up on a life he never dreamt he’d have. As events spiral and the truth comes out, Evan faces a reckoning with himself and everyone around him.

Dear Evan Hansen

Starring X-Factor winner Joe McElderry as the roof-raising Pharaoh, the smash-hit London Palladium production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat comes to Canterbury in January!

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Like mulled wine and mince pies, Christmastime and brass music go hand in hand. Back by popular demand, tonight, the Philharmonia’s dazzling brass players take the spotlight in this carefully curated programme of carols, festive favourites and more. Whether you’re in the spirit already or you need a bit of Christmas magic, we guarantee you’ll be leaving the concert feeling jolly.

Philharmonia Orchestra: Brass At Christmas

When a young girl finds a little star that has fallen from the sky, she decides to look after it, giving it the love, time and care that the star needs to get its sparkle back.

My Pet Star

Don’t miss our spectacular magical pantomime Beauty and the Beast, starring Maisie Smith (EastEnders, Strictly Come Dancing, Strictly Ballroom: the Musical), children’s favourite, Phil Gallagher (CBeebies’ Mister Maker), and Marlowe Theatre Legend, Ben Roddy. They will be joined by children’s TV stars Richard David-Caine (Horrible Histories) and Tyler Collins (Swashbuckle), along with West End superstars Jocasta Almgill (Dreamgirls, & Juliet) and Joseph Hewlett (Madagascar the Musical).

Beauty and the Beast

Winner of four Olivier Awards including Best New Musical in London and the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical on Broadway, this smash-hit show shares the incredible real-life story of the 7,000 air passengers who were grounded in Canada during the wake of 9/11, and the small Newfoundland community that invited these ‘come from aways’ into their lives with open hearts.

Come From Away

A Cuban take on the favourite festive classic, Carlos Acosta’s brand-new production Nutcracker in Havana explodes onto the Marlowe Theatre stage, featuring new choreography by Carlos Acosta CBE performed by more than 20 dancers from his Cuban company, Acosta Danza.

Carlos Acosta’s Nutcracker in Havana

Having sold over 15 million albums in the UK alone, 10cc have eleven Top 10 hits to their name, including three No 1 singles – Rubber Bullets, Dreadlock Holiday and the ubiquitous I’m Not In Love – along with Donna (No 2), Art for Art’s Sake and Good Morning Judge (both reaching 5), The Things We Do for Love and I’m Mandy Fly Me (No 6), and The Wall Street Shuffle (No 10).

10cc: The Ultimate Greatest Hits Tour

The National Theatre’s acclaimed production returns in an all-new UK tour. War Horse is an unforgettable theatrical experience which takes audiences on an extraordinary journey from the fields of rural Devon to the trenches of First World War France. Based on the beloved novel by Michael Morpurgo, this powerfully moving and imaginative drama, filled with stirring music and songs, is a show of phenomenal inventiveness. At its heart are astonishing life-sized horses by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, who bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to thrilling life on stage.

War Horse

Get whisked away on a fabulous journey as Juliet ditches her famous ending for a fresh beginning and a second chance at life and love – her way. Created by the Emmy-winning writer from Schitt’s Creek this hilarious new musical flips the script on the greatest love story ever told.

& Juliet

Adapted by Christopher Gable and Massimo Moricone, Romeo and Juliet is one of Northern Ballet’s most beloved and critically acclaimed productions. Every leap, every turn, every heartbeat breathes new life into Shakespeare’s masterpiece and invites you to rediscover the iconic love story like it’s the very first time.

Romeo and Juliet

Winter 1934 and an avalanche stops The Orient Express dead in its tracks. A murder. A train full of suspects. An impossible case. Trapped in the snow with a killer still on-board, can the world’s most famous detective, Hercule Poirot, crack the case before the train reaches its final destination?

Murder on the Orient Express

Arguably the most recognisable West End performer of her generation, author, actress, vlogger and award-winning sensation Carrie Hope Fletcher is heading back out on the road in Autumn of this year!

Carrie Hope Fletcher: Love Letters

The Philharmonia’s Finnish Principal Conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali is at home in this repertoire, framing Grieg’s concerto with music by his compatriot Sibelius. First, enjoy Sibelius’s musical depiction of the Oceanides, sea-nymphs of Greek mythology – one of his most loved works.

Philharmonia Orchestra: Stephen Hough Plays Grieg

Star of his own Netflix special Philly Philly Wang Wang, where he explores race, romance, politics and his mixed British-Malaysian heritage, we will be treated to a headline set from Phil Wang. Phil has been a firm favourite of shows including Live at the Apollo, Taskmaster, The Graham Norton Show and many more.

Live at the Marlowe

A dance, music, fashion and visual art creation that showcases the depth of ancient Yoruba philosophy, mixed with Nigerian youth culture and its pure and uncompromising joy. Ten young dancers and two musicians perform the cycle of life with explosive energy, marked by the urban chaos of the Nigerian city of Lagos.

Qudus Onikeku: The QDance Company

The nation’s twelfth-favourite doctor brings his brand-new show to Canterbury, fresh from a record-breaking run at the Edinburgh Fringe. This is Going to Hurt was a literary sensation, selling three million copies and becoming a multi-BAFTA-winning BBC series.

Adam Kay: Undoctored

Celebrating 40 years of iconic and chart-topping compilation albums, this brand-new musical comedy has an unbeatable 80s soundtrack and show-stopping direction and choreography by Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood. This is an event you won’t want to miss.

NOW That's What I Call a Musical

Murder, greed, corruption, exploitation, adultery and treachery… all those things we hold near and dear to our hearts. So begins the international multi-award-winning musical, Chicago.

Chicago

Transport yourself to the golden age of Hollywood with Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Violin Concerto. Korngold made his name as one of the most influential film music composers of all time. His Violin Concerto borrows music from several of his film scores. Tonight it is in the hands of Gramophone’s 2022 Young Artist of the Year: Swedish-Norwegian virtuoso, Johan Dalene.

Philharmonia Orchestra: Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6

Nikita is joined by a sharp and chic cast of talented dancers and vocalists in a show like no other, jam-packed with the hits we all know and love in an evening bursting with happiness, euphoria and of course, world-class dance.

Nikita Kuzmin: Midnight Dancer

Gosh almighty! Based on the much-loved Doris Day movie, this plumb fancy new production stars the multi-award-winning West End actor and singer Carrie Hope Fletcher (Cinderella, Les Misérables) as the fearless, gun slingin’ Calamity Jane.

Calamity Jane

Cameron is thirteen, and all he wants is to be normal – have friends, go to school, and dive to the bottom of his local swimming pool. But he desperately needs a heart transplant and time is running out. When he’s finally offered a new heart, Cameron must choose how far he’ll go to get his life back.

Pig Heart Boy

The Broadway and West End sensation, Kinky Boots the Musical, is strutting back to Canterbury in a brand-new production starring Strictly Come Dancing’s Johannes Radebe, WhatsOnStage Award-winner Courtney Bowman and rising star Dan Partridge.

Kinky Boots The Musical

This is a dynamic new dance show-with-a-difference created by BAFTA award recipient and world-renowned choreographer Jason Gilkison. Red Hot and Ready builds on the acclaimed performance legacy created by the global dance sensation Burn the Floor which has wowed audiences for over two decades.

Dianne & Vito: Red Hot and Ready

Ready to thrill you with fun and naught moments, Richard O’Brien’s legendary musical returns to Canterbury as part of a new world tour.

The Rocky Horror Show

Step through the wardrobe into the magic kingdom of Narnia where a world of wonder awaits.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

After building his reputation as part of Squeeze, in 1987, Jools formed The Jools Holland Big Band which gradually metamorphosed into the current 19-piece Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra.

Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra

Dare to experience the dangers and delights of Dinosaur World Live in this roarsome interactive show for all the family as the Olivier award-winning production returns to Canterbury!

Dinosaur World Live

From humble beginnings in Nutbush, Tennessee, to her triumphant transformation into a multi award-winning global superstar, Tina Turner didn’t just break the rules, she rewrote them, winning 12 Grammy Awards and selling more concert tickets than any other solo performer in music history.

The Marlowe Theatre

12 - 17 May, 2025

Chicago

May 20, 2025

Philharmonia Orchestra: Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6

May 21, 2025

Nikita Kuzmin: Midnight Dancer

27 - 31 May, 2025

Calamity Jane

4 - 7 Jun, 2025

Pig Heart Boy

6 - 10 May, 2025

Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort of)

Apr 29 - May 3, 2025

Swan Lake

Articles & News

The Marlowe Theatre