ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
THERE ’ S NOTHING QUITE LIKE the Theatre cont .
Revelation St Mary ’ s , Ashford
Nestled just off Ashford High Street is the 14thcentury St Mary the Virgin Church ; warm , intimate , quaint , the very picture of what a country church should be , slightly at odds with being just a stone ’ s throw from a bustling high street . But it ’ s a church with a difference as just five years ago it opened its doors as Revelation , a unique music venue at the heart of Ashford ’ s arts scene . What makes this place so special is the passion of all those involved to make it happen . Debra McGee is the general manager and only full time staff member in a small team of three . RSM relies on its team of volunteers and its board of trustees .
This revolutionary approach to arts programming ( the church is still a working church ) is nothing new for Ashford who were also one of the first to embrace the concept of shared space with great success .
Following major investment and support from both Ashford Borough Council and Arts Council England , Revelation opened its doors in 2011 with an exceptional acoustic , highquality sound and projection systems and an ambition transform the arts scene in Ashford .
www . revelationashford . co . uk // 01233 663201
The Marlowe Theatre , Canterbury
The Marlowe Theatre is one of the most iconic buildings in Canterbury city centre , and as such it has a lot to live up to . Thankfully , this beautiful theatre offers some of the most artistically diverse shows around including dance , music , drama , and children ’ s shows .
The theatre re-opened in 2011 after an extensive programme of refurbishment which meant that it could offer more space to artists and the public alike . It is now seen as one of the leading lights of arts within Kent , and even produces its own plays with a view to incorporating local writers into the fold in the future .
www . marlowetheatre . com // 01227 787787
Avenue Theatre , Sittingbourne
The Avenue Theatre offers a wide range of events and services from full-scale musicals to the most heart-warming tales and fun children ’ s productions . Or perhaps you prefer an evening of live music or a movie ? They have it all ! Whatever your taste there will be something for you . The theatre is also available to hire from just £ 5 per hour , per room . There is the Auditorium , the West End Room , or the Broadway Room – suitable for meetings , rehearsals , family gatherings and private cinema hire is also available .
www . avenuetheatre . co . uk // 01795 471140
Margate Winter Gardens , Margate
The Winter Gardens was opened on 3rd August 1911 by the then Mayor of Margate , Alderman W . B . Reeve . Margate blazed the trail that others were to follow . So the history of municipal entertainments in this country can be traced back to Margate .
The Winter Gardens has never just been a venue for the various art forms . It has been a major conference and exhibition centre for most of its life . Over the years it has seen many conferences held by various political parties and around the 1950s was considered to be one of the top conference venues in the country . Bringing the Winter Gardens into the 21st century has seen many changes . The Winter Gardens is now part of an Industrial and Provident Society in partnership with Thanet District Council . The Company was originally called Thanet Leisureforce Ltd , now Your Leisure Kent Limited , and brought together , not only the Entertainment / Hospitality side of the industry , but also the leisure and fitness industry in Thanet .
www . margatewintergardens . co . uk // 01843 292795
The Brook Theatre , Chatham
Formerly Chatham Town Hall , stunning Victorian architecture provides an unforgettable backdrop for this creative factory in the heart of Medway . Housing four professional creative companies as well as Medway Council ’ s Arts team , The Brook Theatre is a buzzing hub for new and existing talent in all areas of the arts .
There are two performance areas allowing for a range of traditional and contemporary theatre , dance , music and entertainment with a particularly strong focus on children ’ s theatre .
http :// tickets . medway . gov . uk / thebrookthe atre . aspx // 01634 338338
The Central Theatre , Chatham
There is nothing like seeing a live show : the anticipation , the atmosphere , the unique connections between audience and performer , and of course the memories . This beautiful 965-seat venue is already home to myriad memories and it is waiting for you to come along and make more unforgettable ones of your own . Making The Central Theatre yours is at the heart of their programming , carefully putting together a season of shows to reflect the tastes of the area .
http :// tickets . medway . gov . uk / thecentralth eatre . aspx // 01634 338338
Theatre Royal , Margate
Revelation St Marys © Lewis J Brockway
On 27th June 1787 , amid much ceremony , the Theatre Royal Margate opened its doors for the first time . The first performances being She Stoops to Conquer , and All the World ’ s a Stage . Initially , it was built to vie as a facility for the entertainment of the upper classes along with the Assembly Rooms , Cecil Square ( 1770s ), and the Circulating Library , Hawley Square ( 1786 ), both now sadly demolished .
The theatre is therefore of major significance , both historically , and architecturally and is well supported by its local community . In April 2007 , the building was bought by Thanet District Council and leased back to Margate Theatre Royal Trust on a peppercorn rent . Essential improvements to the fabric of the building were carried out and core funding agreed by Thanet District Council and Kent County Council . The theatre reopened in September 2007 and successfully developed rapidly from a struggling seaside venue to an energetic arts organisation presenting high-quality professional work , offering a new community , youth and education programme delivered to over 20,000 people each year .
www
. theatreroyalmargate . com // 01843 292795
Assembly Hall , Tunbridge Wells
The Assembly Hall Theatre is a 1,020-seat venue in the heart of Tunbridge Wells . It was built in 1939 , and there are faint echoes of the Art Deco movement all over the building , inside and out . And after a £ 1.5mil refurbishment in August 2015 , The Assembly Hall is now even better than ever .
Not only is the theatre a beautiful one , but it plays host to some of the biggest and best shows in Kent , with many a West End transfer knocking on The Assembly Hall ’ s doors before anyone else ’ s .
The Tunbridge Wells Opera and Dramatic Society have called The Assembly Hall home since 1967 , and have put on many excellent productions since then .
www . assemblyhalltheatre . co . uk // 01892 530613
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