Kent Art, Theatre and Cinema Information

Canterbury Art Theatres & T.S Cooper

Canterbury is Kent's main hub for the arts including a choice of renowned art galleries, theatre and cinema.You can view the work of local artistic talent from Christ Church at the aptly named Sidney Cooper Gallery on St Peter's Street. The building was originally an arts school, set up in 1882 by acclaimed Canterbury cattle painter himself TS Cooper. Mary Tourtel, creator of Rupert Bear took lessons here in landscape and animal drawing. This gallery has a rich heritage and a contemporary edge, exhibiting not just the work of talented local students, but also acclaimed National and International artists. Checkout the Sidney Cooper Gallery's webguide right for forthcoming exhibitions.

For one of the best collections of TS Cooper's work including cattle scenes head to the Royal Museum and Art Gallery on Canterbury's High Street where a selection of this popular Victorian artist's work is on display alongside some Van Dyck and Henry Moore. Early lithographs by Thomas Sidney Cooper with a focus on Canterbury depicting the intricate detail of the cathedral, Westgate and Christ Church Gate amongst other Canterbury scenes hinted at the talent to come. After a period of study with the acclaimed Belgian animal painter Eugene Verboeckhoven who recognised Cooper's talent and encouraged him, Cooper went on to become one of the most popular Victorian painters of his day.

He was particularly famous for his cattle paintings earning him the nickname 'Cow Cooper'. No contemporary painter could compete with Cooper's skill in depicting the woolliness of fleece or the hides of cattle. Canterbury born and associated closely with the city, Cooper painted numerous Canterbury meadow scenes with either Canterbury Cathedral or the Westgate Towers visible in the distance, Cooper's treatment of the Cow, often on a mammoth scale, has been compared to Landseer's depictions of deer. Various booklets, leaflets and postcards are available at the Royal Museum and Art Gallery.

On the theatre and cinema side, Canterbury offers much. The Marlowe Theatre is a central hub for theatre, including drama, big music shows and more within Kent. The Gulbenkian Theatre serves as both theatre and cinema, and sits within the heart of the University of Kent campus. Cutting edge independent cinema from across the world is on offer here, alongside comedy theatre, childrens theatre and concerts.

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Turner Contemporary Art Gallery Margate

The Turner Contemporary art gallery to be based in Margate on the site of Turner's lodging house overlooking Margate's Bay was conceived in the 1990s. A frequent visitor to Margate, JMW Turner (1775-1851) was drawn to the distinctive Margate light and Thanet skies. The new Turner Contemporary here promises to be Kent's largest and most celebrated arts centre, as well as boosting Margate's regeneration.

Work is currently underway on the large permanent gallery by David Chipperfield Architects who boast a wealth of experience in designing cultural buildings including recently Germany's Museum of Modern Literature and the spectacularly layered Valencia's Veles e Vents America's Cup Building on the waterfront. There's plenty going on already celebrating Turner's links with Margate and Thanet, with numerous events and exhibitions on offer around Margate venues. (see full events, talks and workshop listings via the Turner Contemporary webguide).

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Tunbridge Wells Theatre

Royal Tunbridge Wells has a kickin' arts scene revolving particularly around the Trinity Theatre and live music venue The Forum. All round arts and theatre centre, you've not just some superb drama on offer at the Trinity Theatre, but also a programme of independent cinema, music and comedy. Also on-site is a children's theatre and cafe bar plus exhibition space. Checkout Trinity's webguide right for forthcoming shows, exhibits and events.

Likewise the Assembly Halls in Tunbridge Wells offer a fine ecclectic mix of drama, music, popular shows, pantomime, musical theatre and comedy. Assembly Hall Theatre, Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2LU. Tel Box Office. 01892 530613. The Forum in the town is a mecca for up and coming bands across Kent and Sussex, particularly Kent.

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Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery

Particularly special in Maidstone's Bentlif Art Gallery is the collection of Japanese Art and prints from the Edo period (1600-1868) - the collection is extensive and the third largest in the UK. Kent's premier art collection is held here at the Bentlif, with a specialism in pre-1800 minor Dutch and Italian Old Masters plus a small selection of rare work by essayist William Hazlitt who was born in Maidstone. Recent special exhibitions have included work by other local artists including Albert Goodwin (1845-1932), famous especially for his watercolours. Also born in Maidstone, Goodwin was influenced by Turner and championed by Ruskin. You'll come across sculpture by more recent masters such as Henry Moore and Jacob Epstein here, alongside ancient decorative ceramics, furniture and more.

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Kent Theatre & Cinema

Alongside Canterbury, Kent theatre hotspots are at Whitstable, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and Margate. Whitstable Playhouse Theatre is a stunning building, once a United Reformed Church purchased by the Lindley Players Theatre group in 1946. The Lindley Players are still going strong, and the programme here consists of a lively variety of music hall, pantomime and drama. The theatre seats 186. Checkout the Wintstable Playhouse's webguide right for what's on. Also in Whitstable, the modern arts and community Horsebridge Centre sits on the coast south of Whitstable Harbour and plays host to art and crafts exhbitions, as well as regular comedy, film and music events. A cafe is on-site with workshops and talks running regularly. If you're fond of live music, fine real ales and traditional old inns with friendly welcomes, then Whistable will suit you fine. Top traditional inn venues in the town for live music include the Duke of Cumberland and the Old Neptune inn right on the beach.

The history of the striking Edwardian Margate Winter Gardens is a long one stretching back to 1911. Margate's Winter Gardens retains much of its Edwardian character and charm, whilst at the same time offering a prestigious programme of concerts and big popular music shows. Also in Margate, the Theatre Royal is Britain's second oldest theatre and offers an exciting programme of drama, comedy, music, dance, exhibitions and talks. Cutting edge cinema is also often shown at the Royal.

Maidstone's Hazlitt Theatre & Exchange offers a superb programme of drama, big music shows, family shows, dance and comedy. The Maidstone Film Society also operate from here, with a programme of superb independent cinema running throughout the year.

When touring historic Cinque port Sandwich, look out for the 1930s white Empire Cinema on Delf Street, still working with original neon lighting and art deco architecture inside and seating upto 136. Note too in Margate one of the UK's greatest iconic 1930s Art Deco Cinemas - Dreamland overlooking Margate Bay. Grade II listed, Dreamland's deco tower is unique. A local campaign is currently underway to save both the cinema and historic Dreamland themepark which includes one of the country's oldest roller coasters. Independent cinema is particularly good in Kent with Reeltime Cinemas operating a number of character independent cinemas in the region including at Herne Bay, Sittingbourne and the classic Westgate Carlton near Margate. Dover's February Film Festival offers film showings usually in the stunning atmospheric Connaught Hall within Dover Town Hall and the Maison Dieu venue.

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Kent Art in Historic Houses

Two of Kent's most historic houses boast superb art collections. Head to Restoration House in Rochester - inspiration for Dickens and Miss Haversham's Satis house in Great Expectations. This pre-Civil War house contains a fine collection particularly of Gainsborough, Romney and Reynolds. Visit also historic Knole, family home of the Sackville family for centuries, and childhood home of Bloomsbury set member Vita Sackville West. Knole's collection of Stuart furniture is particularly famous.

Highlights at Restoration House include numerous lesser known works by Thomas Gainsborough, George Romney portraits, a selection of Joshua Reynolds and work by Constable. The focus of this collection, accumulated over 20 years by the present owners, is English Primitives, early portraits and English landscape. Gainsborough, Reynolds and Romney fans won't want to miss a viewing of this outstanding collection which sits perfectly in this historic house.

At Knole historic home near Sevenoaks some notable (some of it commissioned) artwork is also on display within the house including several Gainsboroughs, some Van Dyck, Kneller and Reynolds, and a rare world famous collection of Stuart furniture, much of which came from the royal palaces of Whitehall and Hampton Court. A prototype of the original 'Knole settee' is a particular fascinating highlight on a tour of the house which is a maze of rooms, including 13 state rooms, which remain much the same as they were 300 years ago.

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