Welcome to the fun house :-)

I've decided, after much thought that i should probably write about the wonderful new theatre I work at..... Ok, well not that much thought....it was quite an easy desicion actually as why would i talk about a far off place when i can talk about the place in my own back yard.


For those of you who don't know canterbury well, this is the old Marlowe.

Built origianlly as a cinema in the 1930's it was converted into a theatre in the mid 1980's. It served the city well as a approx. 1000 seat venue, but did not utilise the space that it sat on. In 2008 the theatre closed to be replaced by the new new marlowe.

During the wait for the new home to be built, the theatre continued its panto tradition and moved into this... wonderful tent. Many happy memorys were spent in portercabins set up as a box office, but a few years have passed and now.......

The New Marlowe Theatre.

As a boxoffice bod it has been an amazing experience moving into a new purpose built 1200 seater venue. Opinions of the exterior design have been mixed which was to be expected when you consider Canterbury is a heritage city and this has been built right in the center of the town. Despite these instant opinions about the outside, the vast majority of those who have been to see shows on the inside have found the place to have incredible acoustics and a wonderful feeling. The shape of the main auditorium design is based on old horse style theatres, a style of theatre that helps to amplify sound to even the highest corner and aims to make sure no one is too far away from the action (max distance to stage is 25mtrs). Add this old style design with the unique sound reflecting roof, and the specially designed sound reflecting seats and you have a venue with all the feeling of a old theatre but with the style and up to date technology of a new.


The theatre also boasts a smaller 'black box theatre'  (The Marlowe Studio). Home to the Youth Theatre and home to some new and exciting smaller works. Canterbury has been calling out for a multipurpose venue and this 150 seat venue offers a wonderful place for smaller production companies to show off there skills. It has also been used as a comedy cabaret venue (the seating is retractable leaving a nice sized floor space) and as a gig venue for local groups. 


Since opening, the theatre has experienced great growth and solid attendance figures, something which is leading to new west end tours choosing the venue in future years. So the future is bright and here's hoping that the theatre goes from strength to strength.


For more info on the Marlowe, visit marlowetheatre.com   


I'll be back soon with some reviews of shows we have seen over recent months.

Welcome blog

Well....Its happened! I've started blogging

Just over a year ago my wonderful wife started  anarmchairbythesea. I've sat and watched her have so much joy through her reading, writing and reviewing that i decided enough is enough.....I’d like to play too :-)

I can't promise this will be a daily thing due to work commitments, but I can give you an overview of what I am and what I love and hopefully you'll find it interesting.

I work for a brand new theatre in Canterbury and I love every second of it. I've been involved in theatres for just over 3 years and I can’t think of a better subject for me to blog about.

Whenever I go to a theatre I can’t help but admire the architecture and the style of building, the time and love that has been given to create a grand experience. Theatres are incredible places, full of suspense, beauty, joy, love and style (both on and off stage). I often get told off by Bekah for paying more attention to the building and the set then i do the show itself. Stepping into a auditorium makes me feel like an inquisitive school child, often uttering the word wow and spending a while soaking in the atmosphere that a theatre seems to share at every angle.

I feel this blog will turn into a place for me to geek out about the theatre, about films, about books that I have read, shows that I have seen and the buildings I have visited. I hope that it is a useful blog and that it is viewed and enjoyed by other lovers of the Arts.

I am currently writing a review on the 'night circus' (Erin Morgenstern) which is the latest book that grabbed my attention and i will upload that soon.

In the mean time, my final words today, 'thank you' (mainly aimed at my wife who this is a surprise for), and a quick and cheesy Shakespeare quote.

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,