The director of Kent’s largest theatre, who oversaw its £25.6 million redevelopment, is retiring after 23 years in the role.

Mark Everett will leave the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury at the end of October having led it through its transformation from a 950-seat converted cinema to a 1,200-seater venue between 2009 and 2011.

He described his retirement decision as a “wrench” but added he felt the timing is right “for someone new to take it into the next phase of its history”.

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Mr Everett, who joined the Marlowe in 1994, has had a 40-year career in theatre which began as house manager of the Octagon Theatre in Bolton.

His career also took him to the Dukes Playhouse in Lancaster, the Bristol Old Vic and the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, but it was in Kent where he made his lasting mark.

Since reopening, the Marlowe has enjoyed record footfall, bringing in more than 400,000 people to its shows in its last season.

It has become one of the most popular regional venues for the major touring musicals and shows transferring from the West End and its annual pantomime attracts more than 90,000 people a year.

At its fifth anniversary celebrations last October, it was calculated more than 1.8 million people have watched shows at the new theatre since it reopened, with almost £150 million pumped into the local economy.

Mr Everett, 65, has been instrumental in attracting some of the country’s finest companies to the venue, including Glyndebourne Opera, the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures.

He said: “I have spent half my theatre career here and there have been many extraordinary changes both at the venue, and in the cultural life and profile of Canterbury.

“I am very proud to have played a part in some of these and I am delighted that, as I leave The Marlowe, its local and national reputation has never been higher.”

Paula Gillespie, the theatre’s general manager since 2008, will become the acting director of the Marlowe following Mr Everett’s departure.

Canterbury City Council owns the theatre and approved its redevelopment in August 2008, weeks before the banking crisis caused a four-year economic downturn.

Chief executive Colin Carmichael said: “The council would like to thank Mark for the incredible work he has done over the last 23 years and for the role he has played in making our Marlowe one of the best regional theatres in the country. We wish him the very best for the future.”