Theatre submits £24m revamp plans

The refurbished venue will have a 1,200-seat auditorium

Plans for a £24m revamp of a theatre building in Canterbury have been submitted to the city council.

Consultation on the proposals for the Marlowe Theatre is now under way. A public meeting to seek people's views has also been planned for 13 May.

Councillors agreed to part-fund the theatre overhaul, and back it as an arts project in February this year.

The refurbished venue could have a 1,200-seat auditorium and a second performance space with 150 seats.

The application will now go through the planning process, where the theatre's appearance and surroundings will be considered.

The theatre has been housed in a 1920s cinema building for nearly 25 years.

If the plans are agreed the new venue will also have improved catering, box office, and toilet facilities.

The planning applications include refurbishment and landscaping

The Earl of Wessex is royal patron of a development trust set up to raise private donations.

Council chief executive Colin Carmichael said: "This is a major project for Canterbury and it's important people understand what is being planned."

He urged "as many people as possible" to give their views.

Two planning applications have been submitted.

One application is to demolish part of the theatre and a neighbouring garage, and the other application is to reconstruct the theatre and also landscape its grounds.

Proposals can be viewed at council offices or on the council's website, and will be decided by the development control committee later this year.