Designed with multi-functionality and community-based facilities, the Marlowe Theatre scheme has won a Civic Trust Award. Apart from that the project has also received the RIBA Download award for the South East Region in 2012, in recognition of the way the project responded to the challenges of the brief.
The scheme has also received two ‘culture awards’ like ‘East Kent People’s Award’ which recognises a schemes’ engagement with the local community, popularity across the region and success in attracting new audiences and the ‘Cultural Landscape Award’, which celebrates its positive impact to the environment, architecture or public space.
Replacing the existing theatre building, the new five-storey Marlowe Theatre was constructed for Canterbury City Council by ISG Plc. Named after Christopher Marlowe, Canterbury’s celebrated 16th century playwright, the theatre is located at the River Stour, opposite the Cathedral’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Spread over 4,850 square metre, the building has been conceived as a complex pavilion. It is composed of an 8m high colonnade in white cast Dolomite stone, which has been specifically incorporated by the architects to bring about a sense of civic order to the main facade.
An existing flytower at the site was retained during the construction of the Marlowe Theatre. The flytower was distinctly shaped to form a sculptural pinnacle facing toward the Cathedral, adding accent and silhouette to the city’s skyline. Clad in a stainless steel mesh skin, its surfaces glitter with the changing hues of sky.
The foyer of the theatre connects all main spaces to the principal auditorium. Lined in black American walnut with seating in red/orange leather, it accommodates an audience of 1,200 spread over three levels. In addition to that the scheme also incorporates a piazza and riverside café with terraced area and includes meeting and exhibition spaces.
