[6] A theatre opened on St Margaret's Street, Canterbury shortly before World War I but was converted to the Central Picture Cinema in the 1920s.

[8] The building was purchased and renovated by Canterbury City Council, at a cost of £2.35 million, and opened as the second Marlowe Theatre in July 1984.

[13][14][15] To give the impression of an audience whilst the auditorium was closed, Whitstable artist Ben Dickson created 50 portrait cut-outs of famous people associated with Kent and placed them in the empty seats.

The complex also includes a separate 150 seat performance space; hospitality outlets; rehearsal and backstage facilities, and a three level foyer.

[2] The distinctive, colonnade facade comprises individual six tonne, polished, reconstituted stone columns, some incorporating concealed downpipes, and a precast concrete soffit.

[18] Other performers have included Elvis Costello,[19] Van Morrison,[20] Ray Davies,[21] Suzanne Vega,[22] Kate Rusby,[23] Richard Thompson,[24] José González,[25] Don McLean,[26] and Fairport Convention.

[29][5] The Marlowe's pantomimes have featured Dave Lee,[12] Natalie Imbruglia,[30] Martine McCutcheon,[31] Danniella Westbrook,[32] Shaun Williamson,[33] Daniel MacPherson,[34] Lewis Collins,[32] Emma Barton,[35] Adrian Edmondson,[36] John Thompson,[37] John Partridge,[38] Toyah Willcox,[39] Samantha Womack,[40] Rita Simons[41] and Gareth Gates.

[44] The Muse of Poetry statue, representing Christopher Marlowe's work, in front of the theatre has been criticised as "Victorian soft porn".

A Whitstable resident argued in 2022, the figure stands "unnecessarily naked, except for a titillatingly draped piece of cloth" and has "nothing specifically to do with Christopher Marlowe".

Theatre Manager Mark Everett told the Kent Messenger "Jim Davidson believes that I don't like his material, which is true."