Orlando Bloom - Marlowe Theatre

FREE
The magazine of The Marlowe Friends
Issue 1 Spring 2011
to m
e
The mbers
of
Mar
Frie lowe
nds
Tom Chambers
he 2008 winner
T
of Strictly Come
Dancing on bringing
his new show to
Canterbury
Building blocks
Architect Keith
Williams talks about
his design for our
iconic new building
Orlando Bloom
anterbury’s favourite son answers
C
our questions about growing up
with The Marlowe Theatre
June Brewer
Freddy Kempf
Northern Ballet
he Chairman of
T
The Marlowe Friends,
on her life and work
for The Marlowe • P12
World-renowned pianist
Freddy Kempf returns
for a concert in aid of
our new theatre • P6
he Marlowe favourites
T
arrive in autumn with
a new production of
The Nutcracker • P16
Contents
An exciting
and challenging
year ahead
FREE
to me
The mbers
of
Ma
Friendrlowe
s
The magazine of The Marlowe Friends
ISSUE 1 Spring 2011
Tom Chambers
8 Our new building
Architect Keith Williams
talks about his design for
our iconic new building
18 Designing our new look
What is a visual identity,
and why do we need one?
We talk to the people who
have redesigned the ‘look and
feel’ of everything we do
10 Tom Chambers
The 2008 winner of Strictly
Come Dancing on bringing his
new show to Canterbury
19 Laura Kimpton
Columnist Laura Kimpton
gets excited about our
fantastic launch season
12 June Brewer
We talk to the Chairman
of The Marlowe Friends
about her life and work
for our theatre
20Discounts and events
for The Marlowe Friends
Plenty of savings to be made
and special events to be
enjoyed across Kent for
our members
4 News
The 2008 winner
of Strictly Come
Dancing on bringing
his new show to
Canterbury
Building blocks
Architect Keith
Williams talks about
his design for our
iconic new building
Orlando Bloom
Canterbury’s favourite son answers
our questions about growing up
with The Marlowe Theatre
JUNE BREWER
FREDDY KEMPF
NORTHERN BALLET
The Chairman of
The Marlowe Friends,
on her life and work
for The Marlowe • P12
World-renowned pianist
Freddy Kempf returns
for a concert in aid of
our new theatre • P6
The Marlowe favourites
arrive in autumn with
a new production of
The Nutcracker • P16
Welcome to the first issue of
our new-look Friends magazine!
Spotlight
Issue 1 Spring 2011
15 Nicholas O’Shea
Pharon’s Director on his
company’s long-running
relationship with The
Marlowe Friends
22Orlando Bloom
Canterbury’s favourite son
answers our questions about
growing up with The Marlowe
16 Northern Ballet
Favourites of The Marlowe
return to Canterbury in the
autumn with a new production
of The Nutcracker
23The Marlowe Studio
Our new second space
is unveiled, opening up a
world of new events and
opportunities
Friends are very
important to us
and I’d like to
thank all of you
who have stayed
with us during
the closure
period. This has
been a fantastic
show of support.
COntact us
We welcome all comments,
questions and submissions.
Write to us at our (temporary)
address below, or email
spotlight@marlowetheatre.com
Contributors
John Baker
Laura Kimpton
Sarah Munday
Mia Power
Annabel Thomas
Ben Travis
Editor Sarah Munday
Design Cog Design
Photography Tim Stubbings
timstubbings.co.uk
ISSN 2046-4703 (print)
ISSN 2046-4711 (online)
2011 will be a very exciting year for everyone involved with
The Marlowe Theatre. It will also have its challenges because
this really will be an entirely original theatre.
This is the first edition of a completely new magazine,
published specially and exclusively for The Marlowe Friends.
You will find information about our upcoming shows,
insights into the new building and its design, and get
a taste of what to expect in our new theatre.
Friends are very important to us and I’d like to thank all
of you who have stayed with us during the closure period.
This has been a fantastic show of support. Thank you, also,
to those Friends who have recently joined.
I’d also like to thank Chairman June Brewer and the Friends
Committee for their help and encouragement over what
have been two difficult and certainly unusual years.
The Marlowe Theatre
Canterbury Visitor Centre
12–13 Sun Street
Canterbury
Kent CT1 2HX
The Marlowe Theatre is on track to open in early autumn,
and the project remains within budget. However, we still
have a way to go to complete our fundraising
campaign. You can help us do this: for example,
have you considered buying a seat so that your
name, or that of a loved one, will be visible in
the new main auditorium for at least 20 years?
Follow us on Twitter
@marlowetheatre
marlowetheatre.com
Page 16
2
Spotlight Spring 2011
Page 15
Page 10
Cover photo: Sean Gallup/ Getty Images
I’d also like you to encourage others to be
Friends, so they can join us in benefiting from
all the many advantages of membership.
Mark Everett
Theatre director
Spring 2011 Spotlight
3
Cinderella
confirmed
for 2011
We open our doors to diners
Pantomime
In a taste of things to come, we
can reveal that The Marlowe
Theatre will offer you a superb
eating and drinking experience
once it opens in the autumn.
There will be three stylish
bars, with one on each level of
the building. This will make it
much easier to get a drink at
the interval, with a wider range
to choose from. You can also
expect guest wines, giving you
something new to try each time
you visit. Light snacks will also
be served in all of the bars.
You can also get something
tasty to eat and drink at The
Riverside. Overlooking the
river, it will offer the perfect
place to relax with friends,
even if you are not seeing a
show. It will be open all day
and in the summer, customers
“Of course, there will be all
the usual elements that our
loyal audiences have come
to love – comedy, audience
participation, local legend
Dave Lee and, of course, the
ghost gag bench. But we’re
also planning a few extra
treats for our first year in the
new theatre. There will be a
new and absolutely stunning
snowy set; beautiful white
Shetland ponies and a whole
host of special effects,
as well as an absolutely
top-notch cast.”
Tickets are already on
sale. Book yours by calling
01227 787787 or go to
marlowetheatre.com.
Eating & drinking
will be able to dine outside
on the riverside terrace.
Head of Operations Paula
Gillespie said: “Wherever
people choose to eat or drink,
it will enhance their experience
of coming to the theatre. We
will have consistently high
quality and wherever possible
we will use locally-sourced
produce which will be served
by our knowledgeable and
friendly staff”.
More than 20 people,
including a catering manager
and two chefs, will be employed
in the next few months.
Spotlight Spring 2011
Since their inception at the Watermill Theatre
in Newbury in 1997, Propeller have gone on to
become one of the most renowned Shakespearian
companies working today.
Having performed in the West End and toured
internationally, their full-scale productions are
innovative, thought-provoking and enormously
entertaining. The all-male troupe are led by Artistic
Director Edward Hall. As the son of Shakespearian
heavyweight Sir Peter Hall, Edward has many
strings to his bow, notably taking the helm
as Artistic Director of Hampstead Theatre in
February 2010.
After wowing audiences last year with a Kent
schools’ tour of Pocket Dream, their shortened
version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, they are
making their Canterbury debut at The Marlowe
Studio with Pocket Comedy, a new take on A
Comedy of Errors, which will show the dynamic cast
at their best. With interactive feedback sessions with
the cast following all performances, there really is no
better way to get children hooked on Shakespeare.
A sumptuous leather seat in The
Marlowe’s sparkling new auditorium
is waiting to have your name on it!
For a donation of £500 you can name a
seat in your theatre, with the chosen name
or names engraved on to a specially designed
brushed stainless steel plaque on the back.
The opportunity is open to everyone,
including groups. The Marlowe Friends
are especially welcome.
To sign up for this unique and strictly limited
opportunity, contact The New Marlowe Theatre
Development Trust on 01227 456448 or email
joanne.pearson@newmarlowetheatre.org.uk.
4
shakespeare
Photo: ©Shutterstock/yurok
Pantomime-goers will
be having a ball at The
Marlowe. Cinderella, one of
the most popular titles, is
the first festive offering in
our new theatre. Producer
Emily Wood said: “Knowing
that the re-opening was
imminent, we’ve been saving
this title for a few years now,
it is the best panto of them
all and it will be a fitting relaunch of Marlowe pantos in
the new building.
Propeller bring pocket
comedy to the Marlowe
in numbers
10,000
HRH The Earl of Wessex takes in the view from the top-floor
theatre bar. The Earl, who is Royal Patron of the theatre’s
fundraising campaign, took a tour of The Marlowe last month,
led by architect Keith Williams. HRH said: “It’s great to see the
design team’s idea becoming a reality. I’m very impressed with
what I’ve seen and look forward with eager anticipation to the
finished theatre.” For another royal read, turn to page 19.
In December 2007, we at
The Marlowe Friends
welcomed our 10,000th
member. This made us the
largest organisation of its
kind in the country. Nigel
Allchurch-Barwood and his
wife Caroline, of Chartham,
were surprised to be called
up on stage during a
performance of Aladdin for
the announcement. They
were presented with
champagne and flowers, and
treated to a meal at Abode.
Spring 2011 Spotlight
5
Peter Pan on Ice
Special event
The builders will be moving back
into The Marlowe early in 2012,
but this time to turn the stage
into a giant ice rink.
Freddy Kempf
returns to Canterbury
Classical
World-renowned pianist Freddy Kempf is returning to
Canterbury for a concert in aid of our new theatre.
The event, on Saturday 28 May, has been organised
by The New Marlowe Theatre Development Trust and
it also gives fans the rare chance to hear Freddy in
conversation: Trust Chairman Peter Williams will be
talking to him about his life and times.
Born in London in 1977, Freddy began piano lessons
at the age of four. He attended St Edmund’s School,
Canterbury and, in 1992, while still a pupil there, he
came to national prominence when he won the BBC
Young Musician of the Year competition. Freddy went
on to study at the Royal Academy of Music.
In 1998, he was awarded third prize in the Tchaikovsky
International Piano Competition in Moscow: this
provoked an outcry from the audience and the Russian
press who believed he should have won, and Freddy’s
popularity in Russia has since been unprecedented.
Many international debuts followed and Freddy, who
now lives in Berlin, has since performed all over the
world. He has built a unique reputation both as an
explosive and physical performer, as well as a serious,
sensitive and profoundly musical artist.
The concert is at the Shirley Hall, King’s School,
at 7.30pm. For further details and to book tickets,
call The Marlowe Box Office team on 01227 787787
or go to marlowetheatre.com.
6
Spotlight Spring 2011
Fourteen tons of crushed ice,
14,000 litres of water, 2,500 litres
of anti-freeze and 140 man hours
later, the scene will be set for the
Russian Ice Star’s production of
Peter Pan on Ice.
Creative Director Julian Deplidge
is the man who will be holding it
all together. As well as overseeing
the building of the ice rink, he has
to make sure the 25 skaters and 14
crew are at the top of their game.
Audio-described dance
comes to The Marlowe
accessibility
Dance has always played an
important role at The Marlowe.
Now, for the first time, we
are pleased and proud to say
that our blind and partiallysighted customers will be able
to enjoy an audio-described
performance (ADP) of a dance
production.
Northern Ballet are bringing
The Nutcracker to Canterbury
in the autumn and the matinee
on Saturday 5 November will
be described. In the ADP, the
production comes alive as the
action on stage is described
live through headsets. Before
the show, there will be a
touch tour and a workshop
specifically designed for those
with visual impairments to get
the most from the performance.
Northern Ballet’s Dance
Education Officer Sophie
Alder said: “Our renowned
learning department delivers
work to extend the reach
of dance and help people
explore their creativity. We
continue to pioneer work
with blind and partially-sighted
people, both through ADPs
and participatory sessions,
and we are delighted that we
can now do this at The Marlowe.”
You can read more about
The Nutcracker on pages 16
and 17. For more information
about accessible performances,
call Sarah Munday on 01227
862270 or email sarah.munday@
marlowetheatre.com
He said: “Everyone thinks it’s
a huge and complicated task,
when in reality it is quite a simple
process when done properly and
everything goes according to plan.”
It’s a welcome return for the
Russian Ice Stars, who this time
bring JM Barrie’s famous story
of the boy who never grew up.
Unique touches, such as penny
farthings being ridden across the
ice as the curtain opens on the
skyline of a London park, pave
the way for a fast-moving and
lavish production.
Workshops and activities for all ages
in numbers
1,200
The Marlowe has wanted to offer more creative
workshops for many years, yet the limited
space in the old theatre prevented this from
happening. Now, with The Marlowe Studio,
we will be able to run a full programme of
events tailored to all age groups and interests.
Julian Lloyd Webber
From graffiti art to animation, and drama
to street dance, The Marlowe Studio will
play host to a whole range of activities for
you to try your hand at. With an everexpanding programme of events there
will be something to suit everyone.
The Marlowe Theatre’s programme
will include regular visits from
the Philharmonia, one of the
world’s leading orchestras. The
season will include appearances
by cellist Julian Lloyd Webber
and Finnish composer-conductorpianist Leif Segerstam, both
highly regarded internationally.
The number of seats in
our new auditorium. None
will be more than 25 metres
from the stage.
Spring 2011 Spotlight
7
In pictures
Our webcam caught
all the action as our
new building took
shape over the course
of the last 18 months.
June 2009
September 2009
December 2009
March 2010
June 2010
November 2010
February 2011
Architect Keith Williams
talks about his approach to
designing our new theatre
Setting
the Stage
8
Spotlight Spring 2011
been shaped to create an accent
toward the cathedral, forming a more
dynamic silhouette than a rectangular
functional shape. Oriented toward
the cathedral, the new flytower
will be a prominent pinnacle, whilst
ensuring that Bell Harry retains
its pre-dominance.
The studio space is 5.5m above
entrance level, allowing the foyer to
slide beneath and maintain visual
connection with the river. Its external
skin is clad in pre-oxidised copper
to make the distinction between the
two performance spaces and to form
a connection with the red and brown
roofscapes of Canterbury.
I am sure that The Marlowe will have
a transformative effect on arts and
culture in the South East and beyond,
and endow Canterbury with a truly
exceptional new building.”
For more information on our new
building, and to see the time-lapse film
of it being built, go to our website
marlowetheatre.com.
Top Architect’s impression
of the finished building
Above Keith Williams
Opposite Visualisation of the
finished theatre auditorium
other famous
Keith Williams
buildings
PROFILE
The
redevelopment
of The Marlowe
Theatre, on
schedule for
opening this
autumn, is one
of the most
important current
capital arts
projects in
this country.
Keith Williams Architect
Keith Williams is founder
and design director of
London-based Keith
Williams Architects.
He has received more
than 25 major design
awards and has twice been
Building Design (BD) Public
Building Architect of the
Year (2006 and 2008).
He works internationally
on major civic, arts and
development projects.
As well as The Marlowe
Theatre, Keith’s current
projects are Chichester
District Museum and Athlone
Art Gallery (Ireland).
Completed projects include
Athlone Civic Centre and
Wexford Opera House,
both in Ireland, and Unicorn
Theatre (a children’s
theatre) and Long House (a
contemporary family house),
both in London.
He has lectured widely on
his work and in 2010 was
made Honorary Professor of
Architecture at Zhengzhou
University, China.
A Fellow of the Royal
Society of Arts, he
has judged numerous
architectural competitions
and awards schemes and
his work has been published
internationally. A book on
the firm’s work entitled Keith
Williams: Architecture of
the Specific was released in
December 2009.
Wexford Opera House
Ireland
The Long House London
Unicorn Theatre London
(below)
Photo: Héléne Binet
T
he Marlowe Theatre has been
designed by Keith Williams of
Keith Williams Architects, a
multi-award-winning architectural
design practice based in London.
Here, Keith tells us about his
Canterbury project.
“The redevelopment of The Marlowe
Theatre, on schedule for opening this
autumn, is one of the most important
current capital arts projects in this
country. It will contain a 1,200-seat
main auditorium with balcony levels,
flytower and orchestra pit, a 150-seat
studio space, café and bars, rehearsal
and backstage facilities.
The new theatre is modelled to
rise in steps from the smaller scales
of nearby St Peter’s Church and the
existing buildings along The Friars, to
the pinnacle of the flytower.
The aesthetic challenge of the
flytower was the subject of much
design consideration, since within
the city it will be the tallest structure
after Bell Harry, the cathedral’s
central tower. The new flytower has
Spring 2011 Spotlight
9
The Strictly Come Dancing winner looks forward to
bringing his new show to Canterbury in the autumn
Chambers music
M
any people will know the
name Tom Chambers from
the ever-popular Strictly Come
Dancing, the show he won in such
style in 2008. He claimed the hearts
and minds of millions of viewers with
his easy manner and clear love of tap
and ballroom dancing, beating former
S Clubber, Rachel Stevens, for the
coveted glitterball trophy.
Separate from the world of realitytelevision, Tom is swiftly making a
name for himself as the man of the
moment for stage revivals of classic
musicals from Hollywood’s golden
era. Having recently starred in White
Christmas at the Sunderland Empire,
Tom is thrilled to be coming to The
Marlowe with Top Hat. As this is the
first stage production of the timeless
Fred Astaire and Ginger
Rogers movie, Tom and
his co-star Summer
Strallen have some very
large (tap) shoes to fill.
With Top Hat,
“It’s a lifelong
I have the
ambition to work on this
opportunity
era and style”, says Tom,
to take an iconic yet he readily admits
to it being “a daunting
and world-class
task to take on the role”.
performance and Ever since he was a
make it new...
small boy, “stomping”
around his parents’
it’s my biggest
kitchen before he even
challenge yet
knew of Fred Astaire,
to fill such
Tom has been drawn
amazing shoes.
to tap dancing, and the
10
Spotlight Spring 2011
precision and discipline required of
the style. Having recently returned
to the stage after spending many
years doing TV work, Tom is relishing
the challenges of performing to live
audiences once more. Appearing on
Strictly Come Dancing helped to propel
Tom into shows such as Top Hat. He
acknowledges that the show has done
a huge amount to rejuvenate the era.
“Strictly certainly helped with the
popularity of the classic movies. It
really has done an incredible job of
bringing the era to the forefront of
people’s minds.”
With Top Hat, Tom says he has the
opportunity to “take an iconic and
world-class performance and make it
new... it’s my biggest challenge yet to
fill such amazing shoes.” Having seen
Tom in action on Strictly, and in his
fantastic rendition of Fred Astaire’s
unforgettable drum dance from A
Damsel in Distress, we at The Marlowe
are thrilled to see what he can bring
to Top Hat. As one of the first major
musicals in our new theatre, Top Hat
promises to be a show that doesn’t
disappoint, and with Tom’s evident
passion and commitment to the role,
it is an event you would be tapping
mad to miss out on.
Tom Chambers and Summer Strallen
(pictured left) will be in Top Hat at The
Marlowe Theatre prior to the West End
from Tuesday 8 November to Saturday
19 November.
Spring 2011 Spotlight
11
Sarah Munday meets June Brewer,
an institution of The Marlowe
Friend forever
Y
ou’re a doer, why don’t you get
involved?” If anyone was going
to rise to this challenge, it was
going to be June Brewer.
The now Chairman of The Marlowe
Friends admits she didn’t need much
persuading – it was 1992 and she
had recently retired from her career
with the Woolwich Building Society.
After a lifetime’s hard work, she’d
been doing some voluntary work at
Canterbury Pilgrims Hospice, and
enjoying her hobbies.
June and her husband Alan had been
to The Marlowe for a get-together for
people who were interested in forming
a Friends group. She knew John
Robertson (the then Theatre Director)
from the days when the Woolwich
organised Christmas collections for
Age Concern and The Marlowe would
send pantomime cast members along to
present them (Kathy Staff and Bernie
Clifton being two).
June accepted John’s invitation to
get involved and became a committee
member (Rita Collett is the only
other founding member still on the
Friends committee). The first project
June undertook was putting together
a welcome pack. She went around
Canterbury businesses securing almost
£2,000-worth of advertising.
June then started thinking of other
ways to raise money and in 1993, the
centenary year of the birth of Ivor
Novello, she organised a concert at The
Marlowe. The event on December 12
12
Spotlight Spring 2011
attracted more than 600 people and
made more than £3,000.
June was in business: “I was chuffed
but didn’t know what I had started!”
She has now organised 97 concerts and
raised more than £110,000. In April,
she is presenting her 98th, the Railway
Swing Band at the Gulbenkian Theatre.
Her own particular favourite concert
was the Piccadilly Dance Orchestra
in September 2008. “It was the last
one I did in the main house of the
old Marlowe and it was a wonderful
evening with a fabulous atmosphere.
“I have enjoyed them all though.
It’s good to feel the appreciation all
around you and to be a part of it. The
bar concerts – the first one was in 1998
– had a more intimate feel because the
performers could walk around. They
were different but just as good.”
June became Chairman of
the Friends of the Marlowe
in 1997, succeeding founding
Chairman Donald Hollins and
his successor Barry Andrews.
There were less than 2,000
Friends when she took over and
although numbers slowly increased,
it was only when a two-for-one offer
on plays was introduced, that things
really took off. At its peak, the Friends
was the biggest such organisation in
the country, with more than 10,000
members.
Although June acknowledges that
the majority of people joined to get
discounts on tickets and priority
At its peak,
the Friends
was the biggest
such organisation
in the country,
with more than
10,000 members.
Above Between Friends, the
magazine of the Friends of
The Marlowe, which June
edited for five years
Right June Brewer at home,
December 2010
Photo: Tim Stubbings
“
Spring 2011 Spotlight
13
booking, she also believes the
Friends’ trips (the first one was to
the Globe Theatre in 1998) were an
added attraction.
A
former amateur performer
(and someone who was
voice-trained) and a writer
and narrator, June has a huge love of
musicals, with Brigadoon and Mack And
Mabel being her favourites.
As far as The Marlowe goes, her
favourite performance was Ron Moody
in the community production of Oliver!
in April, 2004. “His first appearance was
with his back to the audience and when
he turned round I remember I just cried
– it was somehow such an emotional
moment to see the man in that iconic
role and it simple moved me to tears.”
June is a talented painter and, until
recently, a keen golfer – before that it
was table tennis (it was at a table tennis
dinner that she met Alan).
But what drives June, especially as
far as her beloved Marlowe Friends is
concerned? “I feel very strongly that no
one person is bigger than the Friends.
The committee is a team and we all
have our niche. I feel – and I hope – that
I have the ability to motivate people and
to draw them together.”
She went on: “I love the buzz of it,
the absolute thrill and I feel so lucky
that, through my involvement with the
Friends, I have learnt so many different
skills. With the new theatre, I am sure
that the Friends will get back to what it
was and beyond – how can you not be
excited by that?”
Pharon Independent Financial Advisors’ relationship
with The Marlowe Friends is long-running, and
now Company Director Nicholas O’Shea is doing
some running of his own
I feel very
strongly that
no one person
is bigger than
The Friends. The
committee is a
team and we all
have our niche.
I feel (and I
hope) that I have
the ability to
motivate people
and to draw them
together.
Marathon man
T
he 37-year-old will be taking
part in the London Marathon
for the first time next month:
“Something I have always wanted to
do, ever since I saw it on TV as a kid.”
Although Nick admits that he is
highly competitive (he does gym
triathlons and plays football), he
says it’s the taking part in the world’s
biggest road race that counts. And,
of course, the fund-raising: Nick is
running for the Greater London Fund
for the Blind.
With his marathon training now at
its peak, Nick, who has been with the
family firm since he was 16, has
little time for one of his other
passions – the theatre. His
all-time favourite show is the
“spine-chilling” Phantom of
the Opera, which he has seen
PROFILE
June Brewer Chairman, The Marlowe Friends
14
Spotlight Spring 2011
When they moved back
to Sheffield, the city was
being heavily bombed: “My
memory is of walking to my
dad’s mother’s house about
four miles away and we were
picking our way through the
bomb damage. I can also
remember being in a shelter
with an air-raid going on.
As a child I didn’t feel the
fright I would have done as
an adult.”
June completed her
education (she went to
grammar school) and got
her first job, aged 17, in the
medical records’ department
of Sheffield Royal Hospital.
In 1957 she met and
married an RAF officer from
Northern Ireland. The couple
had two daughters, Katie
and Jacqui, and in 1964, they
moved to Bangor. June got
her first taste for writing
when her articles were
published in the East
Antrim Times.
The marriage ended and
June needed to support her
family, so she became an
Avon lady and soon became
a manager. By then they
were living in Belfast and in
1969, the Troubles started.
June said: “There was never
a day went by when the
car wasn’t stopped and
searched. I remember I went
to see someone on Avon
business only to find out
afterwards they unearthed a
huge cache of arms there.”
Later, she successfully
applied for a job transfer
back to England. Katie and
Jacqui went to live with
their grandparents, and June
packed everything into a car,
got the ship to Liverpool and
to her new place of work –
Canterbury. She spent the
next six months living in one
room at the Reims Hotel.
June met Alan in 1972 and
the following year they were
married. Along with Katie
and Jacqui, they moved into
their house in Tyndale Park,
Herne Bay, in 1974 – and the
couple still live there!
She left Avon to work for
the Woolwich and quickly
moved up through the ranks:
when she left, she was
manager of the Herne Bay
and Whitstable branches.
June was the first woman
chairman of the Chartered
Building Society Institute.
Above June aged 13
Photo: Tim Stubbings
June was born in Sheffield
before the Second World
War and, with her younger
sister Pam, had a “very
happy childhood. It was a
home with a lot of love. We
weren’t poor but we weren’t
rich and although we grew
up in the war, we weren’t
deprived.”
Her father Charles spent
his working life with the
same steelwork firm, rising
from office boy to Personnel
Director. Although he was in
a reserved occupation and
stayed at home, June, Pam
and their mother Lily were
evacuated to a village near
Loughborough.
June has happy memories
of the time (apart from
worrying that Father
Christmas wouldn’t be able to
find them): “I can remember
wearing a gabardine raincoat
with my name label on it, and
carrying sandwiches and a
gas mask.”
several times (first when he was 19)
and he can’t wait to see the sequel,
Love Never Dies.
Nick’s parents Roger and Claire
used to take him and his older brother
Andy to the theatre, including the old
Marlowe, and he carries on the family
tradition by treating his two children,
Daniel (14) and Rebecca (11) whenever
he can. We Will Rock You is a favourite
with both dad and guitarist son, and
they all loved Oliver!
Harbledown-based Pharon has had
several artistic, sporting and community
partnerships over the years, but as a
major sponsor of The Marlowe
Friends, Nick is delighted to see
the progress of the new theatre:
“We really appreciate the
opportunity to be involved in
these exciting times”.
Spring 2011 Spotlight
15
16
Spotlight Spring 2011
N
Photos: Jason Tozer
All change
for Marlowe
favourites
Northern
Ballet
orthern Ballet are enormously
popular at The Marlowe.
However the last year has seen
big changes in the dance company.
They moved into a new home in
the centre of Leeds in October. The
new building, which they share with
Phoenix Dance Company, is the
largest purpose-built space for dance
outside London. And the eagle-eyed
among you will have noticed they have
dropped ‘Theatre’ from their name.
Northern Ballet return to The
Marlowe in November, just in time
to put us in a festive mood with
The Nutcracker.
Chief Executive Mark Skipper
said they have always enjoyed
the loyal audiences in Canterbury
and they return as part of the new
theatre’s opening season with great
pleasure: “The company are excited to
experience the fantastic new state-ofthe-art facilities and look forward to
performing The Nutcracker for you
in these stunning new surroundings
this winter.”
The Nutcracker is one of the world’s
favourite ballets, and has delighted
audiences young and old for more
than 100 years. It is the perfect
introduction to ballet.
Tchaikovsky’s enduring score
will be played live by the Northern
Ballet Sinfonia.
An exciting series of events will run
alongside The Nutcracker. Northern
Ballet’s education department are
holding workshops for the over 55s,
the under fives, and families, and
there will be the chance to watch a
ballet class and find out how a show
is put together.
Recent
Northern Ballet
productions
at The Marlowe
Madame Butterfly (2005)
A Christmas Carol (2006)
Romeo and Juliet (2007)
A Midsummer Night’s
Dream (2008)
Tickets for Nothern Ballet’s
The Nutcracker are on sale
now, with discounts for The
Marlowe Friends.
Spring 2011 Spotlight
17
Laura Kimpton
The building of our new theatre offered the
perfect opportunity to refresh our visual identity.
Ben Travis finds out more
Marlowe by design
T
he average person is bombarded
with more than 5,000 separate
advertising messages every day,
each one competing for our attention on
billboards, television and flyers.
But a brand is much more than just
a logo. It’s about an organisation’s
personality and how it projects itself.
The creation of a new building offered
the perfect opportunity to refresh
The Marlowe’s visual identity, but
also to establish a new brand for
The Marlowe Theatre.
After an intensive search, Cog Design,
whose clients include the British
Library and Arts Council England, were
appointed to conduct The Marlowe
re-brand in February 2010.
The Greenwich-based agency, which
employs 10 people, is headed by Director
and Kent resident Michael Smith. After
courses at Medway College of Art and
Design and Croydon College, Michael
began his career in 1991 designing
flyers and t-shirts for bands, although
he admits that creating his own business
was far from his thoughts at this point.
“I figured out that I could get in to
gigs and events for free if I designed the
flyers and t-shirts.”
It was only when Michael found
himself with too much work for a oneman-band to cope with that he decided
to employ his first member of staff (and
buy his first computer). The company
has grown steadily ever since and is
18
Spotlight Spring 2011
now one of the most successful design
agencies in the cultural sector.
The Marlowe rebranding has been
one of Cog’s biggest projects, and one
that they are very proud of. Managing
a project with so many passionate
stakeholders had its challenges,
but Cog’s ethos of listening and
understanding before doing, stood
them in good stead. Michael
conducted workshops with, amongst
others, representatives from The
Marlowe staff team, Canterbury
City Council and The Marlowe
Friends’ committee.
“Everyone was enthusiastic and
excited, but everyone had a slightly
different idea of what we were
doing and why The Marlowe needed
someone to work on the branding.
Our first job was to sit down and
listen. We had to figure out who the
audiences are, what we want to say,
and how we want to say it. It’s only
then that we started to think about
a visual language.”
The new brand was unveiled in
August 2010 and Cog have spent the
last few months rolling it out across
the whole organisation.
Michael was positive about the
contribution by The Marlowe Friends:
“I really liked their enthusiasm and
passion for the organisation that they
represent. I have a great admiration for
what they do and how they do it.”
Everyone was
enthusiastic
and excited,
but everyone
had a slightly
different idea of
why The Marlowe
needed someone
to work on the
branding. Our
first job was to sit
down and listen.
Below Michael Smith,
Director of Cog Design
A Royally
Good Year
W
ith Prince William’s
recent engagement
to Kate Middleton
sparking heightened public
interest in the House of Windsor,
2011 looks set to be The Year of
The Royals. As the royal wedding
approaches, the commemorative
china is already being produced
and speculation has begun on
that most important of questions
– which designer will dress Miss
Middleton? Kate is fast becoming
a style icon; as an avid reader
of glossy magazines (to the
extent that I once deemed myself
suitably addicted to justify giving
them up for Lent and always
have a mountainous stack by the
side of my bed…on my coffee
table…and in my car), I have
noticed several articles recently
devoted to her impossibly
shiny mane of hair and how we
mortals can recreate the look.
The consensus appears to be a
good blow dry (but let’s face it - a
celebrity hairdresser can’t hurt).
The royal wedding is not the
only thing getting us talking
about the monarchy. The royals
(in the form of the Queen’s
parents) are also the subject
of the film The King’s Speech,
which depicts King George VI’s
struggle to overcome a speech
impediment. The film has been
critically acclaimed, scooped
many awards and, by the time
you read this, it may well have
swept the board at the Oscars.
Add to this the fact that the
Queen now has a Facebook
page with more than 300,000
followers – well ok, it’s titled
The British Monarchy, but who
didn’t have a little chuckle when
the news was announced at the
idea of Her Majesty amending
her status updates (‘Elizabeth is
walking the corgis’) or ‘checking
in’ at Buckingham Palace using
the Places application.
N
ot wanting to miss out,
last month HRH The Earl
of Wessex, who is the
Royal Patron for The Marlowe’s
fundraising campaign, enjoyed
a tour of the theatre, led by
architect Keith Williams.
We’ll also be getting in on the
action and enjoying our own
piece of royal drama at The
Marlowe, in the form of Alan
Bennett’s The Madness of George
III, an epic production that
combines drama and politics
with a touch of humour. The
play was well received when it
premiered in 1991 and a few
years after was adapted into the
I’m sure you’re all getting
excited as the opening of
our fabulous new theatre
draws ever closer.
award-winning film The Madness
of King George starring Nigel
Hawthorne and Helen Mirren.
I’ll definitely be adding this
show to my list of tickets to book,
and as I’ve heard we are in for
lots of interesting and varied
programming in the new theatre
I’m certain it will be a long list.
I’m especially keen to experience
a play in the main auditorium of
the new theatre. The benefits of
greatly enhanced sightlines and
acoustics will be evident in all
theatre-going experiences, but
will be particularly noticeable
where dramas such as this one
are concerned.
I’m sure you are all getting
excited as the opening of our
fabulous new theatre draws
ever closer. I know I am, and
I’m already preparing my trusty
credit card for a bashing when
the first brochure comes out!
Don’t forget that, as ever,
as The Marlowe Friends we will
be the first to hear about (and be
able to book) all the great shows
that will be on offer. So don’t
miss out.
Laura Kimpton: Marlowe Friend,
magazine addict and still trying
to find the secret to royally
shiny hair.
Spring 2011 Spotlight
19
Discounts for the Marlowe Friends
A Simmonds Jewellers
Chromos Art Shop
5% discount on all purchases
27 St Margaret’s Street
Canterbury CT1 2TG
01227 769842
10% discount on art and craft supplies
(excl. special offers and publications)
77 Stour Street
Canterbury CT1 2NR
01227 450836
www.chromosart.co.uk
Build-A-Bear
£3 discount on purchases
of £15 or more (ask a
member of our team for
terms and conditions)
Whitefriars, 7 Gravel Walk
Canterbury CT1 2TF
01227 769295
www.buildabear.co.uk
Canterbury
Camera Centre
10% discount on developing
and printing (excl. digital)
Unit 4, St Georges Centre
Canterbury CT1 1UL
01227 763905
www.cant-cameras.demon.co.uk
Canterbury
Cathedral
2 for 1 on entrance
and guided tours
The Precincts
Canterbury CT1 2EH
01227 762862
www.canterbury-cathedral.org
Canterbury Tales
Special discount ticket £5
per head on presentation
of this voucher, valid until
31 December 2011
St Margaret’s Street
Canterbury, CT1 2TG
01227 479227 (info line)
www.canterburytales.org.uk
Cathedral Shop
10% discount (excl. online sales)
25 Burgate
Canterbury CT1 2HA
01227 865300
www.cathedral-enterprises.co.uk
Chives Cafe
At The Horsebridge
10% discount
The Horsebridge Arts and
Community Centre
Whitstable CT5 1AF
01227 281255
www.chivescaterers.co.uk
20
Spotlight Spring 2011
Crowthers Music
10% discount on music and CDs
1 The Borough
Canterbury CT1 2DR
01227 763965
www.crowthersofcanterbury.co.uk
Espression Paint Your
Own Pottery Studio
10% discount on creatives
29 Palace Street
Canterbury CT1 2DZ
01227 765665
info@espression.co.uk
www.espression.co.uk
Fudge Kitchen
10% discount
16 Sun Street
Canterbury CT1 2HX
01227 479399
www.fudgekitchen.co.uk
Funky Monks Clothing
10% discount
21 St Peters Street
Canterbury CT1 2BQ
01227 781781
www.funkymonksclothing.co.uk
Kent Ballooning
10% discount on all Flight Vouchers
Yew Tree Studios
Stanford North
Ashford TN25 6DH
01303 812812
www.kentballooning.com
Longleys
Private Hire
10% discount on local journeys
(please state that you are a Marlowe
Friend at the time of booking)
01227 710777
www.longleysprivatehire.co.uk
Loupe Gallery
5% discount on all framed images
54 Harbour Street
Whitstable CT5 1AQ
01227 636864
www.loupegallery.co.uk
Madame Oiseau
Fine Chocolates
10% discount on all chocolates
(purchases over £10)
8 The Borough
Canterbury, CT1 2DR
01227 452222
www.madame-oiseau.com
contact@madame-oiseau.com
Marlowe’s
Florist
5% discount on all flowers
St Margaret’s Street
Canterbury CT1 2TH
01227 463275
www.marloweflorist.com
Ortwin Thyssen
Jewellery Maker
30% discount on any valuations
of jewellery carried out by a
registered independent valuer
53 Palace St, The King’s Mile
Canterbury CT1 2DY
01227 788200
info@jewellery-maker.co.uk
www.jewellery-maker.co.uk
Pastry Patisserie
10% discount
2 Palace Street
Canterbury CT1 2DY
01227 450146
More details about participating businesses can be found on our website marlowetheatre.com
Discounts and offers are subject to availabilty
Team Buckley
10% discount on all treatments
2 Broad Oak Rd
Canterbury CT2 7PW
01227 458430
www.teambuckley.co.uk
Wednesday 20 April
Gulbenkian Theatre
10% discount on all purchases
74 Northgate
Canterbury CT1 1BB
01227 454712
www.dressingroomshop.co.uk
Cameo Opera
Tim Stubbings
Photography
Friday 2 September
Gulbenkian Theatre
Minimum 5% discount
01227 460604
photo@timstubbings.co.uk
www.timstubbings.co.uk
For You Alone
Whitstable
Holiday Properties
Sunday 6 November
The Marlowe Studio
£20 discount on any holiday
Hillcross Estates
224 Tankerton Road
Whitstable CT5 2AY
01227 273318
www.hillcrossestates.co.uk
A Christmas Cracker
Wildwood
Woodland Discovery
Sunday 11 December
The Marlowe Studio
10% discount
42 St Peters Street
Canterbury CT1 2BG
01227 768033
www.revivalscanterbury.co.uk
Rituals
Wilkinsons Taxis
15% discount on full price items
(free hand massages and free
makeovers. We also offer free
group make-up lessons!)
21a Marlowe Arcade
Canterbury CT1 2TJ
01227 458889
www.rituals.com
10% discount on all metered fares
Unit 4 Dunkirk Industrial Park
London Road
Faversham ME13 9LG
01227 450450
www.wilkinsontaxisltd.com
Snappy Snaps
15% discount on first
treatment including
pamper packages
Wealden Forest Park
Herne Common CT6 7LQ
01227 713371
www.woodlandshairandbeauty.co.uk
10% discount on all prints
and products
35 Rose Lane
Canterbury CT1 2SJ
01227 456789
www.snappysnaps-canterbury.co.uk
Railway Swing Band
The Dressing Room
One child per family goes free
(not available on Bank
Holidays or in conjunction
with any other offer)
Wildwood Trust
Herne Common
Herne Bay CT6 7LQ
0871 7820081
www.wildwoodtrust.org
Revivals
The Marlowe Friends Events 2011
Woodlands
Hair & Beauty
NOTICEBOARD
400 Club
The 400 Club is our monthly draw, giving you the chance
to win between £10 and £100. Costing only £1 a month to
join, it also means you are helping to raise funds for our
theatre. For an application form, please visit our website
or phone The Marlowe Friends office on 01227 769713.
You can also see a list of winners on our website or,
if you prefer, we can send you a printed copy.
Between Friends crossword
The solutions to the last crossword can be found on The
Marlowe Friends page on the website marlowetheatre.com.
Spring 2011 Spotlight
21
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Orlando Bloom
22
Spotlight Spring 2011
time out to answer these questions,
exclusively for Spotlight. You read
it here first.
Spotlight: When was the first time
you trod the boards?
Orlando Bloom: I was four years
old at the old Marlowe Theatre in a
monkey suit.
S: And what’s your earliest
memory of a theatre show or film?
OB: I remember seeing a mime
artist performing on the high street
in Canterbury who fascinated me.
S: Your biggest influence?
OB: I was always fascinated by
Paul Newman. I was introduced to
his films by my older cousin at an
early age. He was not only a great
actor but a remarkable human
being who gave back in a huge way
through his successful Newman’s
Own products.
S: Who’s the greatest actor you
have ever worked with?
Left Orlando
at The Marlowe,
aged four
Photo: Kentish Gazette
T
main Photo: ©iStockphoto.com/kristian sekulic
O
ur Canterbury-born cover
star may be enjoying his
new role in Los Angeles as
a dad (wife Miranda gave birth to
Flynn in January – “a little ray of
sunshine”) but it seems home is
never far from his thoughts.
As a patron of The New Marlowe
Theatre Development Trust,
Orlando, best known for his roles
in Pirates Of The Caribbean and
The Lord Of The Rings, enjoyed
a tour of the site in July last year
while on one of his frequent trips
to the city to visit family. On the
same day, he received an honorary
degree from the University of Kent.
Orlando was also one of the first
to name a seat in the theatre, along
with his sister Samantha.
With two films due for release
this year (The Good Doctor and
The Three Musketeers) and his
new family, life has never been
busier for the actor, but he took
Off to a
flying start
OB: I’ve been so fortunate to
work with so many great actors.
It’s really hard to single any one
person out as they have all left
an impression. The Lord Of The
Rings was my first movie. Working
with Viggo Mortensen was a real
privilege, he was a huge influence
on my whole process as an actor.
As was Johnny Depp, whose films
I always admired as a young actor.
S: Tell us about your dream role.
OB: I got a taste of playing a rock
star in Sympathy For Delicious.
I want to play Joe Strummer (lead
vocalist and rhythm guitarist with
rock band The Clash). That guy
had presence.
S: And your ambitions?
OB: To be a great father and
continue to grow as an actor.
S: Hollywood or The Marlowe
stage?
OB: The Marlowe, of course.
There’s no place like home.
main Photo: Steve Byde
Who better to step forward for this,
the first magazine of The Marlowe Friends,
than Canterbury-born actor and Hollywood
superstar Orlando Bloom?
he Marlowe Youth Theatre will at
last find a home in The Marlowe
Studio, giving them a purposebuilt place to perform and rehearse
productions.
The popular scheme attracts young
people from across the county and has
seen some of its students go onto a
professional performing career.
Members of The Marlowe Youth
Theatre also performed alongside a host
of stars at The Marlowe Theatre’s closing
gala event in March 2009, devising a
new performance piece especially for the
event. This was one of the highlights of
the evening and marked the end of an
era for the group, as they looked forward
to being a part of the new theatre.
However, despite its success The
Marlowe Youth Theatre have never had a
permanent base and sessions have had to
take place in a range of alternative venues
such as local schools and church halls.
To make best possible use of their
new home, The Marlowe Youth Theatre
I think it will
make all the
difference
for MYT to
rehearse
within the
new theatre.
They are eager
to create
bigger and
more diverse
performances.
is set to expand, with new sessions
being introduced for different age
groups. Many of these will be run on a
Saturday morning, giving parents the
perfect chance to do their shopping in
Canterbury at the same time.
Run in partnership with Wide Eyed
Theatre Company, the sessions promote
imagination and self-expression. Many
members also find the youth theatre a
great way of making new friends.
Wide Eyed’s Emma Reeder said:
“I think it will make all the difference for
MYT to rehearse within the new theatre.
They are eager to create bigger and more
diverse performances. It means we can
train the children on the more technical
side of theatre and create a group that
are able to produce shows that look and
feel professional – very exciting.”
If you’d like more information about
The Marlowe Youth Theatre or our
workshops, get in touch on 01227 862098
or annabel.thomas@marlowetheatre.com.
It’s an exciting time for young people in
Canterbury with the opening
of The Marlowe Studio,
so get in touch and I’ll do
my best to answer your
questions. Annabel Thomas
Spring 2011 Spotlight
23
TopHat
Starring Tom Chambers and Summer Strallen
Music and lyrics by Irving Berlin
Based on RKO’s Motion Picture
Tue 8–Sat 19 Nov 2011
£19–£45
marlowetheatre.com
01227 787787
Prior
West to the
End