A Kent theatre has been voted the joint-best in the country at the prestigious annual The Stage Awards.

Judges said the Marlowe in Canterbury deserved the coveted Theatre of the Year 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 home across the county.

The Marlowe 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 project, 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.

Together with the Mercury and Glyndebourne, a participation programme was also piloted which nurtured young talent, took chamber music into care homes and brought three schools together to compose their own choral piece and perform it in Canterbury Cathedral.

The Stage Awards judges, who also named Battersea Arts Centre a joint winner of the Theatre of the Year award, praised the Marlowe's "extraordinary output" given it receives no public subsidy.

However, sizeable government grants did help the theatre manage to survive during lockdown.

Chief executive of The Marlowe Theatre, Deborah Shaw, said the team were thrilled to win 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," she said.

"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."