It plays host to major West End productions, top comedy, orchestral concerts, touring drama and musical productions, opera, ballet, music, dance and celebrity concerts as well as operating a successful cinema operation - boasting the largest screen and cinema auditoria in the town.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has been resident at The Marina since 2005[1][2] and the theatre has seen performances by acts such as comedians Lee Evans, Michael McIntyre[3][4] and Ken Dodd as well as Shane Filan of Westlife, Moscow City Ballet, The Russian Ice Stars, Mickey Rooney, Meryl Osmond, Jane MacDonald, Mumford and Sons, Julian Lloyd Webber, Tony Christie, David Essex, Derren Brown and actor William Roache.

[7] It is believed the site was once part of the original Grove Estate and the remodelling in 1901 allowed for a gallery seating area possibly in a horseshoe shape with boxes.

[1][6][8] In December 2011 the council handed over management to the newly formed charitable Marina Theatre Trust for a period of 15 years whilst retaining ownership of the building.

[citation needed] The Marina Theatre Trust is a registered charity number 1149133 and was formed following a successful tender by the venues award-winning management team.

The much maligned local authority colour scheme of green and brown was replaced with a mixture of blues, grey and gold.

In June 2012 the Trust also secured a lease on three storey premises adjacent to the theatre - once part of the former Cosalt Works, the building had been rebuilt and remodelled in the early 1990s and was occupied by a double glazing companies call centre.

A successful public appeal enabled the Trust to construct a steel and glass link between the main theatre and new building which opened in November 2012.