Marlowe Theatre Posts Record-Breaking Year with 2015-16 Season

A RECORD number of people saw shows at The Marlowe Theatre last year (2015/16).

The Canterbury venue, which celebrates its fifth anniversary in October, hosted more productions than ever before, and welcomed more participants to its creative classes and other participation work. It also generated more money than ever before for the local economy: £34.63 million (up from £30.83 million).

The Marlowe's total attendance for 2015/16 was 400,421, a 7.38 per cent increase on the previous year. Broken down, 381,773 people saw shows in the main house (7.13 per cent increase), 186,48 in The Marlowe Studio (12.71 per cent increase).

The figures, released last week, reveal there were more shows for people to see in both spaces: 416 in the main house (7.22 per cent up); 166 in The Marlowe Studio (22.96 per cent increase).

Average attendance in the main house was 918 per performance; 112 in The Marlowe Studio. The big hits in the main house included The Bodyguard (99.88 per cent capacity); Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (99 per cent); and Blood Brothers (92.49 per cent).

The top three shows in The Marlowe Studio were Morgan and West's Magic Show (92 per cent capacity); The Nutcracker (83.54 per cent); and the Marlowe-produced A Better Woman (51.73 per cent).

A total of 668 people took part in The Marlowe's participation classes, which include youth theatre, dance and playwriting (9.5 per cent increase). The Marlowe's work in, and with, the community continues to expand: a record number of people took part in its summer community production, The Rights Of Others; the National Theatre's Connections Festival; and the Royal Shakespeare's Learning and Performance Network. In October last year, The Marlowe was named the Most Welcoming Theatre in the South East by UK Theatre, the industry's leading body.

Theatre Director Mark Everett was delighted with the figures, saying: "I would like to thank everyone who helped make the year such a success by seeing a show here, or taking part in an event. I would also like to acknowledge the hard work of all our staff - without them, none of this would have been possible.

"In just a few, short years we have proved what we always set out to achieve: a theatre for the people that brings the best of everything to Canterbury and beyond. It's also great to see that we are helping business boom for the local economy. The £34.63 million figure takes into account a huge variety of factors - from the local suppliers we use, to the local staff we employ - and this figure will continue to grow as we continue to grow."