We appointed Thomas Sinden Ltd in May 2025. Since then, work has been underway to prepare The Brook Theatre for refurbishment. They’ve been working closely with architects, Bailey Partnership, to get the building ready for the planned improvements.
These improvements will create a modern theatre that can be enjoyed for generations to come.
The project will be delivered within the agreed £21 million budget that was set last year.
Funding comes from:
Structural work remains the priority and detailed surveys have identified significant hidden issues. This has required additional repairs and redesign work.
Major cracking and deterioration were found in certain parts of the building. To resolve this, works included:
Major damp issues were also found in the basement area, but they’ve now been resolved.
There is corrosion to the steel in the clock tower which is still being treated.
Due to the level of structural works involved, we’ve reviewed the opening programme schedule. This ensures the theatre is safe, protected, and suitable for long-term use.
We’re working hard to ensure these works are completed before the end of 2026. This will prepare the building for refurbishment and installation works, planned for 2027.
We’re pleased to confirm that we’ll be providing tours around The Brook Theatre this September as part of Heritage Open Days.
This will give you the chance to take a behind-the-scenes tour to understand the history of the building and the restoration work.
Check availability here for our hard hat tours. Spaces are limited.
We expect to confirm a clearer reopening timeline between September and November 2026, once structural works are complete.
The theatre is expected to reopen in spring 2028.
The refurbishment of The Brook Theatre is part of the Chatham Creative Quarters. This programme supports investment in heritage, arts and culture across the town.
Planned improvements include:
Take a look at the future of Chatham.
We’re sharing 2 computer-generated images (CGIs) to show the proposed changes. These reflect the intended design, although some details may change.
Latest artist impressions of how The Brook Theatre may look after refurbishment works are complete. Credit: Bailey Partnership.
The reopening of The Brook Theatre will secure the future of this historic venue.
We’ll publish an online gallery to show progress and completed work.
While The Brook Theatre is closed, The Central Theatre on Chatham High Street remains open.
Check the latest shows at The Central Theatre.
While the curtain remains closed as the main works now begin to deliver a new theatre, you can get behind-the-scenes access by following @medway_culture on Facebook and Instagram for regular updates and insights into this flagship regeneration project for Medway.
Follow today and get a front-row seat to the project!
