Gulbenkian Theatre

The Gulbenkian Theatre is situated on the University of Kent Campus outside Canterbury. Plain yellow brick two-storey building relieved only by canopy over the glass entrance foyer. Adjoining is a dressing-room block, Cinema 3 (a BFI film theatre) and a café with glass exhibition area, set within a landscaped area.

The foyer and bar are fairly generous in proportion but utilitarian in atmosphere, and lead to a friendly, polygonal auditorium with raked seating in three banks. Each seat has uninterrupted sightlines and there is a good relationship between the audience and the actor on the thrust stage.

This is a pleasant theatre, but as designed there is virtually no space stage right, and the orchestra pit is extremely labour intensive to activate. However the Gulbenkian has increasingly embraced a community role – not just the university – and provides a good complementary venue to the Marlowe.