Theatre development to go ahead

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

A Kent theatre has been given permission to begin work on a major £25.6m redevelopment.

Canterbury councillors met on Thursday evening to decide on the future of the city's Marlowe Theatre.

They decided in favour of the major redevelopment over the alternatives of a cheaper refurbishment or closing the facility completely.

At the meeting, 43 councillors voted for the £25.6m plan, two voted against it and four abstained.

A 1,200-seat auditorium and a second 150-seat performance space will be built on the current Marlowe site.

We need theatres outside London - why should people have to get in their cars or go on a train to see things? Timothy West, actor Tour around the Marlowe

The majority of the funding is to come from Canterbury City Council, Kent County Council and the South East England Development Agency.

A campaign to support the redevelopment attracted the support of people from film and television.

Actor Timothy West, a patron of the Marlowe, said: "To close the theatre would be unthinkable and to refurbish it on a 'this'll do' basis is not on because it'd cost everybody more in the end.

"We need theatres outside London. Why should people have to get in their cars or go on a train to see things which you ought to be able to see in your local theatre?"

The theatre hopes to raise another £6m from private donations in three years, with the backing of patrons including actors Joanna Lumley and Orlando Bloom.

A gala will be held at the Marlowe on Sunday 22 March as the final performance in the current building.