Marlowe Events

Forthcoming

Please do about any forthcoming Marlowe productions or Marlowe-related events anywhere in the world, and he would be happy to publicise the details on this page.

The Essay: The Death and Life of Christopher Marlowe, BBC R3 [2026]

• Radio Programme: The Essay: The Death and Life of Christopher Marlowe (BBC Radio 3) examining the life and works of Christopher Marlowe.
• Broadcast Date: A 10-part series first broadcast daily at 21:45 from Monday 20 April to Friday 01 May 2026 (each episode around 15 minutes in length).
• Contributors: Written and presented by Jerry Brotton (Professor of Renaissance Studies at Queen Mary University of London) with contributions from a range of academics and theatre experts, including Charles Nicholl (author of The Reckoning), Emma Smith (Professor of Shakespeare Studies, Hertford College, University of Oxford), Daniel Evans (Co-Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company), actor Greg Hicks and James Shapiro (Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University).
• Summary: "Historian Jerry Brotton presents a 10-part exploration into the life and work of the Elizabethan playwright Christopher 'Kit' Marlowe. Notorious for his violent death in a brawl in Deptford on the banks of the Thames, there's perennial interest in Marlowe's writing, his sexuality, his relationship with Shakespeare, the suspicion that he was a spy and the big "what-if" he had lived longer and produced even greater work. As the artistic co-director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Daniel Evans says in the first programme – if things had been different, might he himself be working for the "Royal Marlowe Company"? Step-by-step, Jerry Brotton traces Kit Marlowe's life and career, takes us through his key plays including Tamburlaine, Dr Faustus and Edward II, examines why they resonate with us now and talks to those today who are still fascinated by Kit's legacy and influence. "
• Listen Online: The episodes will be available to listen to on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds for a year after first being broadcast:
  1. Death in Deptford [Monday 20 April]
  2. Canterbury Tales [Tuesday 21 April]
  3. Metamorphoses [Wednesday 22 April]
  4. The Mighty Line [Thursday 23 April]
  5. The Merchant of Malta [Friday 24 April]
  6. Enter Ghost [Monday 27 April]
  7. His Dark Arts [Tuesday 28 April]
  8. Mad About the Boy [Wednesday 29 April]
  9. Becoming the Story [Thursday 30 April]
  10. The Reckoning [Friday 01 May]
  
• Website Links: Jerry Brotton presents The Death and Life of Christopher Marlowe for The Essay programme on BBC Radio 3.

Exhibition: The Making of Marlowe - Canterbury [2026]

• Exhibition: The Making of Marlowe: Poet, Playwright, Provocateur
• Subject: An interactive exhibition exploring the life of Canterbury's most famous poet and playwright, Christopher Marlowe.
• Dates: Saturday 25 July to Sunday 22 November 2026
• Opening Times: Tuesday to Saturday: 10.00 to 17.00; Sunday: 11.00 to 16.00; closed Mondays.
• Venue: Special Exhibitions Room, The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge, 18 High Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2RA. [Map]
• Admission: Entrance to the exhibition is free, but charitable donations are very welcome!
• Enquiries: For general enquiries and visitor information, telephone 01227 862 162.
• Summary:"Born in 1564 — the same year as William Shakespeare — Marlowe came of age during the height of the English Renaissance. The son of a shoemaker, he received an elite education thanks to scholarships that took him from the King's School, Canterbury to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. By the late 1580s, he was writing for London’s commercial playhouses, completing tragedies such as Tamburlaine and Doctor Faustus that stunned audiences with their power and intensity. His 'mighty line' helped to transform the sound of English drama. Marlowe's life was as dramatic as his works. He may have served as a spy for Elizabeth I's government while at Cambridge. He was arrested several times in England and abroad, accused of violent behaviour and illicit activities, suspected of heresy and atheism, and ultimately killed at the age of just twenty-nine in suspicious circumstances. Despite his short and turbulent life, Marlowe left behind an extraordinary legacy of poetry, translations, and plays that changed the course of English literature. Visit the exhibition to discover artefacts, historical documents and interactive displays that bring to the life the story of Canterbury's notorious poet, playwright, and provocateur!"
• Created By: A partnership between Canterbury Museums & Galleries and The Oxford Marlowe Project at the University of Kent.
• Website Links: The Making of Marlowe, a free exhibition at The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge in Canterbury, running from July to November 2026.

The Massacre at Paris - Warwick [2026]

• Play: The Massacre at Paris
• Date: Thursday 15th October to Saturday 17th October 2026.
• Performance Times: Evenings at 19:00.
• Venue: Playbox Theatre, The Dream Factory, Stratford Road, Warwick CV34 6LE. [Map]
• Tickets: Priced £TBC will be on sale in due course.
• Summary: Playbox Theatre presents The Massacre at Paris written by Christopher Marlowe. "Christopher Marlowe's rarely performed, politically charged drama — presented with boldness and immediacy for contemporary audiences. Playbox Theatre was created in 1986 by Founding & Executive Director, Mary King. Her vision was to create an artistic environment in which all children and young people could flourish."
• Website Links: Playbox Theatre presents The Massacre at Paris at the Dream Factory, Playbox's beautiful theatre in Warwick.