Programme for Marlowe Theatre announced

The new Marlowe Theatre

Bosses recently announced the line-up for the new Marlowe Theatre, which officially opens on October 4.

Included in the programme is a version of the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film Top Hat, starring Strictly Come Dancing’s Tom Chambers and Hollyoaks’ Summer Strallen.

The pantomime this year will be the popular Cinderella and theatregoers will also be able to see the poet Pam Ayres read her work.

However some people feel that the theatre's new programme does not appeal to everyone.

Christ Church University journalism lecturer Kate Kavanagh argued that the theatre’s programme doesn’t offer enough variety. She said: "I know they have expanded the amount of seating available but I don't think they've worked hard enough to provide shows that appeal to the students in the city."

Alex Stathers, 22, a student from Bedford said: "They're not really showing anything that I would want to go and see."

We asked Canterbury residents for their views:

Tickets went on sale yesterday for some 6,500 members of the Friends of the Marlowe scheme.

The building, situated in The Friars, is nearing completion and the general public will be able to buy tickets from April 11.

Video by Kerry Harrison Words by Maria Soleil