Latest news with #HarlequinTheatre
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Reigate & Banstead Council to discuss future of Harlequin Theatre
A Surrey council's executive will meet to decide the future of a theatre, which had to close in September 2023 due to the discovery of Raac (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete).Reigate & Banstead Council (RBC) will meet to decide the future of the Harlequin Theatre in Redhill on 19 June, as well as discussing the creation of a new arts and cultural venue.A report makes recommendations to secure the future of the theatre and bring it back into use as soon as possible, including to proceed with removal of the Raac and essential works to allow the theatre to reopen at previous the discovery of the concrete, the theatre had a capacity of over 500 people. The report advises the council to appoint a specialist company to market and seek expressions of interest for the Harlequin to be run by a third-party operator, with a budget of up to £40,000 for this work, funded by council also says RBC should allocate up to £4.5m in funding from council reserves to fund a design team and the works required to bring the Harlequin back into approved this will also need to be agreed by the full council. Council leader Richard Biggs said: "We remain committed to bringing the Harlequin Theatre back into use and securing its future. "The recommendations seek to balance the community aspirations to bring the theatre back into use as quickly as possible with the need to prioritise community safety."The recommendation to secure a third party to operate the theatre in the future, is about seeking to ensure the financial sustainability of the theatre by reducing the council's subsidy contribution."
BBC News
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Harlequin Theatre and wider culture in Redhill to receive £10m
Funding has been earmarked for a Surrey theatre which was shut due to unstable concrete in its Harlequin Theatre closed in September 2023 after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) was discovered. On Thursday evening, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council agreed to allocate up to £10m for the theatre and "cultural offerings" in the leader Richard Biggs said: "Whatever we do, we are rebuilding it. It's a rebuilding process that we've got to go through." The council has repeatedly insisted that it is keen to continue providing arts in projections indicate the theatre, which will require around £10m worth of remediation works, could take up to five years to light of this, the executive also agreed to receive a further report in June on the feasibility of a circa 200-seater performance venue in the would potentially provide an option while the Harlequin Theatre is closed. 'Nowhere to go' Five options remain open for further review, including the part time use of Regent Hall in Horley Community Centre and a studio-style space in the Belfry or the Biggs added: "My personal view is if we can make it bigger, better, stronger and still keep to the timelines…and costs that we're aiming for."Chris Waite, chairman of the Harlequin Support Group (HSG), says the theatre's continued closure has had a "massive impact" on both performers and visitors alike."I think people are a little bereft," he said."Currently they have nowhere else to go in the borough to do what they were doing before at the Harlequin."
