The history of theatre-going in Canterbury dates back to Roman times. The remains of a Roman amphitheatre still exist in the cellars of St.Margaret's Street.
Tudor theatre is recorded as having taken place in several local inns. However, the City’s first true theatre impressario did not appear until the late 18th Century when Mrs Sarah Baker operated the Buttermarket House with great success. Despite being born illiterate, Sarah Baker was a very successful theatre manager, running a total of three venues in Kent.
Following its demolition in 1789, Sarah Baker then opened Canterbury's first purpose-built theatre in Orange Street in 1790. The facade of the theatre building can still be seen today, and now houses the shop
Merchant Chandler.
This theatre was succeded by the Old Theatre Royal in the 1860s, designed and paid for by local artist Sydney Cooper. This was situated in Guildhalll Street and continued to operate until 1926.
A small theatre then opened in St Margaret’s Street just before the First World War and in the 1920s was converted to a cinema called the Central Picture Theatre. It failed to compete with other new cinemas but was used by amateurs for theatre performances until 1949 when the city council bought it. This then became the first Marlowe Theatre.