Art on campus

Made possible by a generous grant from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the Gulbenkian Theatre opened in 1969 and became a cultural hub for the University, staging plays, screening films and offering high-quality arts activities for the public, staff and students. 

The theatre was designed and built on a modest budget of £81,000. The University’s consultant architect, Bill Henderson, created a theatre space that was intimate and modern. The stage thrust out into the audience and the hexagonal shape allowed for greater intimacy and excellent sightlines through the 342-seat auditorium. It was a modern space, for modern ideas.

Early pioneers of the theatre included Reg Foakes, founding professor of English, who, along with first-appointed director Mike Lucas and his successor, former University student Reg Brown, promptly built a diverse and colourful programme that included everything from the avant-garde to amateur dramatics.

The theatre, now known as the Gulbenkian Arts Centre, has grown over the years to include a cinema, a cafe and a bar, which also houses an additional performance space. The theatre welcomes around 30,000 visitors every year, offering a wide range of productions and activities for students and the wider public. The theatre stages touring comedians, musicians and productions, as well as hosting KTV film festival, the Boing! International Family Arts Festival, Funny Rabbit Comedy Club, and co-hosting the Canterbury Shakespeare Festival.