Kent's biggest theatre has been awarded another £1 million in government funding following its struggles during the pandemic.

The Marlowe in Canterbury is one of 23 organisations from across the county to receive a cash injection from the third round of the Culture Recovery Fund.

The theatre - the largest in the south east, outside London - was thrown into financial uncertainty after it was forced to close for almost 450 days in a row during the pandemic.

It was thrown a lifeline last November in the shape of almost £3 million in government funding to save it from threat of permanent closure.

And today, it has been announced it will receive another £1 million to help aid its recovery.

Bosses say without the additional funding, the theatre would face an uncertain future with "a substantial deficit and no reserves".

Chief executive Deborah Shaw said: “We are hugely grateful to the DCMS and Arts Council England for this additional grant.

"The original Culture Recovery Fund grant allowed us to reopen as early as possible in June and be in the vanguard of the sector’s recovery – supporting artists and freelancers, helping put national tours back on their feet and working with our local communities and especially our young people.

"We have now seen over 100,000 people through the doors, bringing life back to Canterbury city centre and supporting local businesses.

"Of course, we are not through the Covid crisis yet.

"Without this new grant award we would have been facing future uncertainties with a substantial deficit and no reserves.

"It helps us steady the ship and provide the resilience we need to continue to trade out of the crisis. We have big plans for The Marlowe and this means we can get on with them!’.

"Culture is for everyone and should therefore be accessible to everyone..."

The theatre - which attracts annual audiences of 400,000 and works with 20,000 local young people each year - is one of 23 Kent organisations to receive a combined £2.63 million in funding in the third round of the government’s Culture Recovery Fund.

The money has been awarded through the Arts Council, to help theatres, galleries, performance groups and arts organisations reopen and recover.

Evolution productions - the company behind the Marlowe's popular annual pantomime - has been awarded £282,000.

Elsewhere in Kent, one of the UK’s only women’s arts organisations POW! Thanet has received more than £15,000.

The charity explores issues around feminism, women and girls through year-round community and arts projects and an annual festival.

The funding will support POW! to continue its artistic and community outreach activity, as well as starting to research and plan for the next season of programming and support an office space to host activity and workshops.

In Medway meanwhile, Sun Pier House Community Interest Company has been awarded £45,000.

Split over three floors, the venue includes a gallery, cafe, events space, hire rooms, and studios, hosting 21 artists and five businesses

Its team works with artists, creative organisations and those who want to make the world better through cultural engagement, which sees its arts programme extend out of the building and into the local community.

Other Kent organisations to receive funding include Westcoast Kent Community Interest Company, which has been awarded more than £31,000; Visual Elements Ltd, which will receive £383,000; and The Margate School Ltd, which will benefit from £53,500.

Hazel Edwards, south east area director at Arts Council England, said: “Thanks to the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, we’re pleased to be supporting some of the organisations that help make up the South East’s vibrant cultural and creative scene.

"From Brighton to Slough, and from Crawley to Margate, we’ve already seen how funding has helped our local art centres, theatres and other cultural organisations survive through the pandemic.

"With these latest awards, organisations which are at the very heart of our communities can continue to adjust to this new landscape – so audiences from all backgrounds can get back to making the most of everything that they have to offer.”

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries added: “Culture is for everyone and should therefore be accessible to everyone, no matter who they are and where they’re from.

“Through unprecedented government financial support, the Culture Recovery Fund is supporting arts and cultural organisations so they can continue to bring culture to communities the length and breadth of the country, supporting jobs, boosting local economies and inspiring people.”

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