CANTERBURY DISTRICT
ENTERTAINMENT VENUES
From Theatres & Cinemas to bingo halls, Ghost stories abound in the Entertainment world of England, from shadow figures seen to unexplained noises heard. Kent is not exempt from those stories and witness experiences. Paranormal events are held across the county in some places of entertainment, so don't forget to check out the Events in Kent page. Here is what GofEPS has so far for the Canterbury District
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​If you hear of any reports of Paranormal Activity at any of the listed places that aren't reported here, or you know of any not mentioned, please get in touch. Thank you
1. Gulbenkian Theatre
University of Kent, Canterbury CT2
Located within the University of Kent, the Gulbenkian Theatre is more than just a venue-it's a thriving cultural hub. With a 340-seat theatre, a 300-seat cinema, and a café that doubles as an informal cabaret-style space for live music, comedy, and slam poetry, it's where art and culture come alive. The theatre, founded in 1969 thanks to a generous grant, is named after Calouste Gulbenkian, the visionary behind the foundation that made the grant. This organisation has supported numerous arts projects worldwide, making the Gulbenkian Theatre a part of a global artistic community.
The theatre opened its doors to the public for the first time in the summer of 1969. Since then, audiences have steadily increased and now regularly exceed 30,000 annually.
**HAUNTINGS**
The theatre is said to be haunted by a phantom presence. In 2011, a witness reported seeing a figure dressed in black clothing, believed to be a stagehand. Although this spirit has only been spotted once, it is more commonly heard climbing ladders.
2. Marlowe Theatre
The Friars, Canterbury CT1
Friars Cinema opened in 1933 for Oscar Deutsch's Odeon chain. It was designed by Alfred and Vincent Burr and used local company Robert Brett & sons sand and ballast for the build. It was renamed The Odeon in 1946. It closed its doors forever, ending with a one-off performance of The Recluse on Saturday, 16th October 1981.
The first Marlowe Theatre, which opened just before the First World War, occupied another site on St Margaret's Street, Canterbury. and is thought to have opened as the Empire Theatre. In 1927, this small theatre was converted into a cinema called the Central Picture Theatre.
The cinema failed to compete with nearby cinemas, and ABC closed the cinema in 1949.
It was converted back into a live theatre and reopened in 1950. This time, it was called the Marlowe Theatre, named after the playwright Christopher Marlowe, who was born and attended school in the city. The renaming was a tribute to Marlowe's contribution to the city's cultural heritage.
It became the city's first Marlowe Theatre for amateur dramatics groups. It operated as a theatre until 1981, when it became insolvent. It closed in 1981 and was demolished in 1982 to make way for The Marlowe Arcade shopping centre.
Undeterred by the closure of the first Marlowe Theatre, the city council of Canterbury demonstrated remarkable perseverance. Determined to keep the spirit of theatre alive, they purchased the former Friars Odeon Cinema and converted it into a theatre. This bold move led to the birth of the second Marlowe theatre. The alterations included redesigning the stalls with a steep rake reaching up to the former balcony, adding new access corridors to the side of the old auditorium, new dressing rooms under the stage, and rebuilding the stage house with a new 13 by 11.5-metre stage and an orchestra pit capable of housing 48 musicians. New glazed elevations to the auditorium's side were visible and looked out of place on the 1930s building. The theatre had a seating capacity of 1,000. The total cost was 3 million. It was reopened as the second Marlowe Theatre on 8th July 1984. It hosted a gala charity night with a premiere of Powell & Pressburger's film A Canterbury Tale. Over the next 25 years, this building operated successfully, attracting around 300,000 audiences a year to enjoy shows there.
By the 2000s, redevelopment was essential for touring companies and audiences (in particular, better-disabled access), and the second Marlowe Theatre closed its doors on 22nd March 2009 due to these pressing needs.
It took two years and £2.35 million to convert the 1930s building designed by architect Keith Williams. Following a closure period of two and a half years, the third Marlowe Theatre opened on Tuesday, 4th October 2011, with an exceptional opening gala performance attended by Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex.
The current building offers increased seating capacity, better sight lines within the auditorium (no seat is more than 25 metres from the stage), better accessibility, and much-improved audience facilities. It houses The Marlowe Studio, a space dedicated to developing new ideas, with curated seasons of performances and opportunities for regional artists to make and share new work.
The Marlowe Theatre building celebrated its tenth anniversary in October 2021. Over the last ten years, it has become one of this country's most successful theatres, attracting 400,000 audiences a year from across the South East and some of the finest companies and artists to Kent. Their pantomimes, co-produced with the Marlowe Theatre and Evolution Productions, are the most popular in the region.
Since 2017, The Marlowe Theatre has been home to a thriving education programme at The Marlowe Kit. This Grade 1 listed twelfth-century building is one of Canterbury's most historic sites. This programme, which focuses on engaging with schools and young people, has significantly impacted the local community, enriching the lives of many through the power of theatre.
In January 2022, the Marlowe Theatre was named Theatre of the Year at The Stage Awards, a testament to its excellence. This prestigious recognition is a source of pride for the theatre and its supporters and a testament to the hard work and dedication that have made the Marlowe Theatre a beacon of cultural excellence.
**HAUNTINGS**
A ghostly figure dressed in white has been seen lingering on the right side of the stage during performances.