insideKENT Magazine Issue 90 - September 2019 | Page 38

TheaTre in The hearT
of MaidsTone’s
Town CenTre
Originally built as a concert hall in 1869, the Corn Exchange, now called
the Exchange Studio, is the oldest part of the Hazlitt Theatre building.
David Bowie once performed in this room with his local band mates. It
hosted many a tea dance in it’s hay day and now the Exchange Studio has
a modern new seating system for 135 people, new lights and black-out
drapes around the entire room. It offers a diverse programme, with an
intimate theatre experience and performance space.
The exchange studio is also the main rehearsal space for the Hazlitt
Theatre choir, Hazlitt Youth Theatre and Hazlitt Dance Classes.
The Hazlitt Theatre opened in 1955 with it’s fly system and 353 seats.
Named after William Hazlitt, the essayist who was born in Maidstone in
1778. The theatre is a wonderful traditional intimate theatre space with
offers audiences a change to enjoy entertainment from drama to comedy,
dance, family shows and much more, all year round.
Hazlitt Theatre Stage and Auditorium
Panto has been a huge part of the heritage of Hazlitt
Theatre for more than 45 years. We were lucky enough
to find this old programme from 1979 at Maidstone
Library. They now produce own in-house panto evert
year, 2019 see’s Jake Quickenden from X-Factor, winner
of Dancing on Ice 2019, star in Beauty & the Beast. With
lavish scenery, sparking costumes, dazzling special
effects and rip-roaring comedy, you can see it from
30th November until 31st December.
www.hazliTTTheaTre.CoM
Hazlitt Youth Theatre rehearsing Fame in the Exchange Studio