Tickets will be going on sale this month for a range of exciting newly announced shows at the Marlowe Theatre, with an assortment of world-class theatre, opera, West End hit musicals, dance and comedy on offer for audiences.

A number of hit musicals will be making their way to the venue, bringing well-loved songs and stories to the county, including the West End hit Mrs. Doubtfire, which will have a three-week long run in Canterbury from Tuesday 27 July to Saturday 14 August 2027. Featuring new songs and incredible dance numbers, the show tells the story of out-of-work actor Daniel, who loses custody of his children in a messy divorce. Creating the alter ego of Scottish nanny Euphegenia Doubtfire in a desperate attempt to stay in his children’s lives, his new character takes on a life of its own and teaches Daniel more than he bargained for about how to be a father.

Helen George (Call the Midwife, The King and I) returns to the Marlowe Theatre and leads the 28-strong cast as glamorous socialite Tracy Lord in High Society from Tuesday 27 to Saturday 31 October 2026. The lavish musical sees plans for the society wedding of the year descend into chaos as old and new flames vie for attention.

High Society with Helen George
Image by: Michael Wharley

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s multi-award-winning musical Cats will also be heading to the stage from Tuesday 19 to Saturday 23 January 2027, with a legendary score featuring Old Deuteronomy, Macavity: The Mystery Cat, Jellicle Ball and the chart-topping hit Memory.

While Olivier-nominated Just for One Day: The Live Aid Musical, will bring a soundtrack of iconic hits to Canterbury from Tuesday 27 April to Saturday 1 May 2027. 40 years on from the gig that re-wrote music history, the musical features songs from Bob Dylan, David Bowie, The Who, U2, Queen, Madonna, Sting, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Diana Ross and more.

Jersey Boys will also return for its 20th anniversary tour. Following the journey of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons from the streets of New Jersey to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Tony-winning musical runs from Monday 2 to Saturday 10 April 2027.

New drama offerings that will be on sale include The Hollow and Paranormal Activity. Agatha Christie’s The Hollow sees renowned detective Hercule Poirot expecting to take a quiet weekend break in the country and instead being drawn into one of the most unsettling cases of his career. At The Hollow, an elegant country estate, a glamorous circle of guests gathers together one summer evening. But beneath the sunlit charm, something darker coils. When a body is discovered in the drawing room, Poirot finds himself navigating a treacherous web of desire, jealousy and betrayal. The production will run from Friday 9 to Saturday 17 October.

Paranormal Activity will be at the Marlowe from Tuesday 20 to Saturday 24 October 2026. Inspired by the popular film series Paranormal Activity, this West End hit is now embarking on its first ever UK tour. Telling a brand-new story live on stage, the play follows James and Lou as they move from Chicago to London to escape their past, only to discover that places aren’t haunted, people are.

Resident at the Marlowe Theatre, Philharmonia Orchestra will also be returning for their 2026/27 season and bringing world-class classical music to Canterbury. The new season opens on Saturday 3 October 2026 with Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, one of the most popular pieces in the musical world and beyond. Loved by Marlowe audiences, the popular Philharmonia Brass at Christmas (Monday 7 December 2027) and Philharmonia at the Movies (Sunday 17 January 2027) concerts will be returning in the New Year. The Philharmonia Orchestra will be joined by violinist Clara-Jumi Kang for Clara-Jumi Kang Plays The Lark Ascending on Tuesday 16 March 2027 and Guitar Superstar: Sean Shibe concludes the season on Wednesday 14 April 2027.

English Touring Opera (ETO) will bring two fantastic operas to Canterbury in April 2027. Gluck’s Orpheus and Eurydice tells a timeless story of ill-fated love on Friday 16 April 2027. Brought to life with new orchestration in ETO’s new production, the opera tells  the myth of grief-stricken musician Orpheus as he strikes a deal with the Gods and descends to the Underworld to rescue his dead love Eurydice. Puccini’s Tosca will be performed on Saturday 17 April 2027. Directed by Robin Norton-Hale, the opera is set in a Rome which struggles under the shadow of war and the tyrannical chief of police, Scarpia. An idealistic artist is facing execution, and only the singer Tosca can save him from his fate.

This new season’s dance offerings include São Paulo Dance Company. Presented by Dance Consortium and following its hugely successful UK debut, Brazil’s leading dance company makes a triumphant return and brings a fusion of athleticism, precision and emotional intensity to the Marlowe Theatre on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 March 2027. The Marlowe’s associate company, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, comes to Canterbury with the 30th anniversary celebration of one of their most popular productions, Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella. The production runs from Tuesday 23 to Saturday 27 March 2027, presenting a depiction of the timeless fable against the backdrop of World War II. Later that month, English National Ballet will arrive at the theatre for the first time with choreographer Johan Inger’s fresh take on the classic tale Carmen from Thursday 22 to Saturday 24 April 2027.

Sao Paulo Dance Company
Image by: Tristram Kenton

There will also be plenty of one-nighter performances throughout the season in both the Main House and Studio spaces. In the Main House, the UK’s leading political comic Nish Kumar will be touring to Canterbury with Angry Humour From a Really Nice Guy on Sunday 25 October 2026 and Lucy Beaumont will perform her show Bad at Quiz Shows, Good With Weirdos, an evening of chaotic brilliance and surreal storytelling, on Sunday 18 July 2027. Comedy in the Studio includes Harriet Kemsley, back on tour with her new show Floozy on Friday 9 October 2026 and Tez Ilyas with Tez Things I Hate About You on Thursday 29 October 2026.

Young people from the Marlowe Youth Company will also be performing new writing in the Studio space. My Heart is Beginning to Break is a new play, created with and performed by the Marlowe Youth Company. Written by Benjamin Salmon and directed by Masha Maroutitch, it tells the story of Phoebe and her devastation when her best friend moves away. There will be performances from Thursday 6 to Saturday 8 August 2026.

There will also be a chance to see the Marlowe Academy of Performing Arts (MAPA) students in their final assessment production when they perform Nora: A Doll’s House in the Studio on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 June 2026. This radical retelling of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House takes place over three time periods, intertwining women’s suffrage.

Tickets for all of the above shows are now available to book for Marlowe Theatre Friends, with general sale set to go live from Monday 30 March 2026. To see all shows coming up at the Marlowe Theatre, visit marlowetheatre.com