Hazlitt Theatre

Type:Theatre

Hazlitt Arts Centre, Earl Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1PL

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 134 reviews134 reviews

Add Hazlitt Theatre to your Itinerary

Close window

Call direct on:

Tel01622 758611

Check availability for Hazlitt Theatre (opens in a new window)

Hazlitt Theatre Pantomime

Book Tickets Online

About

The Hazlitt Theatre in Maidstone provides a great variety of entertainment events from comedy and drama to dance and music productions. The theatre has seating for around 350 people and a licensed bar offering refreshments.

The Hazlitt Theatre is home to such a wide range of quality entertainment and cultural activities for all ages and tastes, including a 5 week run each year of the annual Christmas Pantomime with well-known TV stars in the line-up.

If you enjoy dance, then look out for the Vienna Ballet Company who frequently include the Hazlitt on their UK tour. If you love music then the Hazlitt is a popular venue for great music acts, and if comedy is your preference then you will enjoy the well-known comedians who make Maidstone one of the stops on their circuit.

In addition to the main auditorium, the Hazlitt Theatre complex includes the Exchange Studio Theatre which seats 150, and the Fourth Wall Studio, with a capacity of 60, is popular as a rehearsal space or a small performance area. These additional spaces provide smaller, more intimate shows allowing new and original work to be seen.
 

As well as professional shows, the Hazlitt Theatre is hired by many groups and companies to stage their own shows. In addition, the Hazlitt attracts film companies, ghost hunters, and local businesses looking for meeting facilities, plus numerous workshops and classes.

The Hazlitt Youth Theatre, a weekly workshop for 11-18 year olds, now has a membership of almost 200 and invites members to take part in events and productions throughout the year.

Maidstone Film Society is based at the Hazlitt Theatre and shows a diverse range of world cinema from September through to April with screenings on Monday evenings at 8pm.

Also within the Hazlitt complex, the Graham Clarke Gallery is an intimate space for local artists to exhibit and create work.

The Hazlitt Theatre is located in Earl Street, home to numerous restaurants and pubs, great for a pre-show meal. There is ample parking available at the nearby Fremlin Walk Shopping Centre car park which is open in the evening.

If you are interested in the history of the Hazlitt Theatre, go to the Inspire Me section of the Visit Maidstone website.

Book Tickets

Events

Saturday, 12th September 2026 - Sunday, 13th September 2026

Poster of Annie JRAnnie JRFollowing their sold out run of Matilda Jr last year, MT Excellence will return to the Hazlitt Theatre, in September, for their second production; Annie Jr.
more info

Saturday, 19th September 2026 - Saturday, 19th September 2026

Maidstone Improv Festival: ImprovaganzaMaidstone Improv Festival: ImprovaganzaImprovaganza brings together two outstanding professional improv companies for a night of live, unscripted comedy that you genuinely cannot see anywhere else.
more info

Saturday, 19th September 2026 - Saturday, 19th September 2026

Maidstone Improv Festival: Kids Improv WorkshopMaidstone Improv Festival: Kids Improv WorkshopBack by popular demand, our kids improv workshop returns to the Maidstone Improv Festival
more info

Saturday, 19th September 2026 - Saturday, 19th September 2026

Maidstone Improv Festival: Pro Improv WorkshopsMaidstone Improv Festival: Pro Improv WorkshopsA full four-hour deep dive into the art of improvisation, led by two of the most exciting coaches in the UK improv scene.
more info

Saturday, 3rd October 2026 - Saturday, 3rd October 2026

Phot of Paul HarrisPaul Harris: The Warrior Walker | Maidstone LitFestDiscover the remarkable true story behind The Warrior Walker – one man's epic journey around Great Britain that became a life-changing search for hope, purpose and healing.
more info

Tuesday, 6th October 2026 - Tuesday, 6th October 2026

Photo of Dr Sian Williams and Ellie ChisellDr Sian Williams: The Power of Anxiety | Maidstone LitFestBroadcaster Dr Sian Williams joins BBC South East’s Ellie Crisell to challenge everything you thought you knew about anxiety in a fascinating conversation inspired by her Sunday Times bestseller The Power of Anxiety.
more info

Saturday, 10th October 2026 - Saturday, 10th October 2026

Maidstone LitFest poster featuring Laurence Campbell, Roger Langridge and Dan Abnett.2000 AD: Behind the Panels – Laurence Campbell and Roger Langridge in conversation with Dan Abnett | Maidstone LitFestStep inside the extraordinary world of 2000 AD, the legendary British comic that launched some of the industry's biggest names and introduced iconic characters including Judge Dredd.
more info

Saturday, 10th October 2026 - Saturday, 10th October 2026

Forever ClaptonForever ClaptonA brand new production for 2026 and outstanding tribute to one of the most iconic Blues and Rock guitarists of all time!
more info

Saturday, 10th October 2026 - Saturday, 10th October 2026

The two map men looking up from a mapThe Map Men Live | Maidstone LitFestThe worst maps are the best maps! Join YouTube sensations The Map Men for cartographic chaos, outrageous mistakes and laugh-out-loud stories from This Way Up.
more info

Saturday, 24th October 2026 - Saturday, 24th October 2026

Women in Rock posterWomen in RockGet ready to crank up the volume and feel the power for Women in Rock, the electrifying live show dedicated entirely to the trailblazing women who shattered the ceilings and redefined rock music forever.
more info

Saturday, 7th November 2026 - Saturday, 7th November 2026

The Elvis Years: The Story of The KingFrom the heart of the West End, with more than 20 years of critical acclaim and a Number One appearance on Top of the Pops, The Elvis Years is the ultimate celebration of The King.
more info

Facilities

Other

  • Booking essential
  • Educational Visits Accepted
  • Parking (charge) - Parking available at Fremlin Walk Car Park
  • Toilets for Disabled Visitors

Accessibility

  • Disabled facilities (please call for details)

Establishment Features

  • Conference facilities

Payment Methods

  • MasterCard accepted
  • Visa accepted

Provider Preferences

  • In town/city centre

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

4 of 5 stars
    • Excellent
      55
    • Very Good
      43
    • Average
      21
    • Poor
      7
    • Terrible
      8

    Recent Reviews:

    • Paradise02125635902
      Maidstone, United Kingdom
      In the summer the heat is shocking
      3 of 5 stars
      Monday, 6th July 2026
      The theatre is OK, it's old and worn. But beware if you go in the summer. The theatre has no air con and you literally boil in your unsupportive seat. This place needs bringing into the 21st century. Read full review
    • kenpattison5
      Maidstone, United Kingdom
      Trip Type:
      Couples
      Don’t bother with this!
      1 of 5 stars
      Wednesday, 2nd September 2026
      Went to see Soul kind of Wonderful on 2nd September - absolute rubbish, no harmony or any kind of charisma! Lead singer didn’t even know the words! Don’t bother! Play some cds at home, you’ll be... Read full review
    • Darren S
      Soul singing joke
      2 of 5 stars
      Thursday, 3rd September 2026
      Went last night to see the Soul singers bit of a joke they only sang most of the song halfway through we left with other guest at first interval, ended up going to the pub across the road as the had... Read full review

    Map & Directions

    Opening Times

    opening 2026 (1 Jan 2026 - 31 Dec 2026)

    What's Nearby

    1. Activate Maidstone

      Enter the game where you become the player in the world's first active gaming facility.

      0.01 miles away
    2. Maidstone Unitarian Church

      A Grade II listed building dating from 1736

      0.02 miles away
    3. The Maidstone Distillery

      Maidstone Distillery is now fully open with tours, tastings, and workshops.

      0.03 miles away
    1. Source Bar

      One of Maidstone's trendiest venues, offering funky house music with a lively atmosphere.

      0.03 miles away
    2. Sett Games

      Sett Games is the first premium board game and puzzle lounge to make an appearance in…

      0.05 miles away
    3. Art-K

      Art classes available for children aged 6+. The studio covers a wide range of art mediums…

      0.05 miles away
    4. Circling the Square Tours and Guided Walks

      A wide variety of tailor made tours of the Kent area.

      0.05 miles away
    5. Waterstones

      Mainstream academic book retailer that encourages browsing, including a coffee shop on…

      0.08 miles away
    6. Maidstone Town Hall

      Maidstone Town Hall is a fine Georgian building originally dated 1763 used as the…

      0.1 miles away
    7. Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment Museum

      The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment Museum is an independent museum housed within…

      0.1 miles away
    8. Ballin'

      A new social venue in Maidstone. 

      On Fridays you can party whilst you play with…

      0.1 miles away
    9. Maidstone Museums

      Maidstone Museum is an exceptional regional museum housed in the gorgeous Chillington…

      0.12 miles away
    10. Brenchley Gardens

      Situated in the town centre between Maidstone East Station and Maidstone Museum,…

      0.13 miles away
    11. MuMu

      A restaurant bar and club in the heart of Maidstone. A stunning, funky lounge bar set in…

      0.15 miles away
    12. Creative Maidstone

      A vibrant community arts centre, including an artisan shop full of items made by local…

      0.17 miles away
    13. Prison Island Escape Rooms

      Prison Island is a multi-activity experience like no other. Inspired by the Crystal Maze,…

      0.18 miles away
    Previous Next

    Ratings & Reviews

    Powered By

    Don't Miss

    Don't Miss

    Don't Miss

    Don't Miss

    Don't Miss