City theatre voted ‘best in UK’

The Marlowe has been voted the joint-best theatre in the UK at the prestigious Stage Awards.

Judges said the city venue deserved the coveted prize for its innovative approach during lockdown, including making its pantomime available to watch online.

The show was seen by more than 92,000 people and also streamed into 91 care homes across the county.

The Marlowe - which shared the award with Battersea Arts Centre - was among the first venues in the country to reopen when lockdown restrictions eased.

Audiences were welcomed back on June 8, for the first time in 448 days, with the launch of the UK tour of Six: The Musical.

The award also recognises one of the Marlowe’s biggest projects, Catalyst for Culture, which it led in partnership with two other theatres to create open-air performances supported by 167 artists.

As part of that initiative, 10 commissions to create new work and three digital projects reached audiences across the region, and two new plays were taken to full production at the Marlowe.

The Stage Awards judges

praised the Marlowe’s “extraordinary output” given it receives no public subsidy, although it was given sizeable government grants to help it survive during lockdown.

Marlowe chief executive Deborah Shaw said of the award: “It is a testament to the immense creative achievements

of The Marlowe team during one of the most challenging periods in its history.

“We’d also like to thank the unwavering support of our audiences who have stood by us throughout the pandemic and, of course, the diverse range of amazing artists that we have worked with over the last year.”

The finale of Jack and the Beanstalk at the Marlowe