Latest news with #TitchfieldFestivalTheatre
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Theatre loses in High Court after secretly building venue without permission
A theatre has lost a High Court appeal after it was ordered to tear down its 465-seat venue which was built secretly without planning permission. Kevin Fraser, director of Titchfield Festival Theatre, took his fight to save his venue to the High Court after claiming to be the victim of a 'vendetta' from the local council. Mr Fraser had already admitted the £1.7 million development in the Hampshire village of Titchfield was built without planning permission and the theatre was declared illegal by a planning inspector last year. Determined to ensure that the show must go on, 68-year-old Mr Fraser launched an appeal by alleging that the inspector's ruling was not lawful. However, a High Court judge made the curtain finally fall on Titchfield Festival Theatre's Arden stage, the newest of its three stages. READ MORE: Shows are still being advertised for next month at the Arden stage although it is understood that the theatre is under orders to cease performances. William Shakespeare is thought to have links to Titchfield after an alleged affair with the Earl of Southampton, Henry Wriothesley, who sponsored the writer for a time. For the last 13 years, Titchfield Festival Theatre has been operating out of a converted barn which holds two auditoriums seating 100 and 200 audience members respectively. But after two failed attempts to get permission to convert a storage space on the site, in August 2022, artistic director Mr Fraser sanctioned the covert building of the new venue more than twice the size. The Arden Theatre which has the order to be torn down at Titchfield Festival Theatre in Titchfield, Hampshire. (Image: Andrew Croft/Solent News) The new Arden theatre even featured an underground orchestra pit - which can seat up to 16 musicians - dwarfing the existing Acorn and Oak theatres. It had been hosting performances since last summer, before Fareham Borough Council stepped in by serving a Planning Enforcement Notice in 2023. READ MORE: Titchfield Festival Theatre loses appeal to stay open Councillors from Fareham Borough Council said it 'beggared belief' that Mr Fraser would build the Arden without permission. Kevin Fraser at Titchfield Festival Theatre in Titchfield, Hampshire. (Image: Andrew Croft/Solent News) Mr Fraser branded them 'Scrooges' and said they had a 'vendetta' against him, but in August last year the venue was declared illegal by a planning inspector. Central to the decision was the stipulation that the site could not legally be used as a theatre. In a statement published by the BBC, Titchfield Festival Theatre said: "The trustees are obviously disappointed with the ruling from the Judicial Review. "We are taking further legal advice on the potential outcomes. In the meantime the Arden Theatre continues to operate."
Telegraph
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Shakespeare would be ‘turning in his grave' at High Court's closure of venue
A theatre director has said Shakespeare would be 'turning in his grave' after the High Court ruled the curtain must come down on an 'illegal' £1.7 million venue. Kevin Fraser, the director of Titchfield Festival Theatre had appealed to try and save the 465-seat Arden Stage, which was built without permission. The development, in the Hampshire village of Titchfield, was declared illegal by a planning inspector last summer, who ordered that it be torn down. Determined for the show to go on, Mr Fraser, 68, launched an appeal at the High Court, alleging the inspector's ruling to be unlawful. The court's ruling looks to be the end for the Arden Stage, which recently held a production of The Sound of Music. But Mr Fraser said the theatre would want to appeal against the High Court ruling and would be taking advantage of delayed enforcement by staging plays in the coming weeks and months. 'I just think it's a loss to the arts community in general,' he told the Telegraph. 'It's a loss to our members and our patrons. and it's a loss to Fareham [the district]. This was very much for the community.' He said 'Shakespeare must be turning in his grave' at the prospect of losing the venue which provides affordable, high quality drama. Mr Fraser insisted the theatre had taken legal advice before construction and been told it was safe to build, after they had already used the space for 10 years. At the High Court, he argued it was 'irrational' to conclude there was a 'change in the character of use'. He also argued that noise concerns should be disregarded because the site had been a workshop before the Arden. But Neil Cameron KC, sitting as High Court judge, dismissed the appeal. Judge Cameron found the inspector did not err in law and made 'intelligible and adequate' findings. Shakespeare is thought to have links to Titchfield after an alleged affair with the Earl of Southampton, Henry Wriothesley, who sponsored the writer for a time. For the last 13 years, Titchfield Festival Theatre has been operating in a converted barn that holds two auditoriums, which seat 100 and 200 audience members respectively. After two failed attempts to get permission to convert a storage space on the site, in August 2022, Mr Fraser sanctioned the covert building of the new venue more than twice the size. The Arden even features an underground orchestra pit – which can seat up to 16 musicians – dwarfing the existing Acorn and Oak theatres. It had been hosting performances since then, but Fareham borough council stepped in in 2023. Mr Fraser was served with a planning enforcement notice – with councillors saying it 'beggared belief' the panto boss had built the Arden without permission – and lost his appeal against it. He called them 'Scrooges' and said they had a 'vendetta' against him as they have their own theatre. Last August, the venue was declared illegal by a planning inspector. Central to the decision was the stipulation that the site could not legally be used as a theatre. Cllr David Foot, the chairman of the planning committee, said: 'I'm pleased the High Court has found the Planning Inspector's decision legally sound which, in turn, upholds the planning enforcement notice served by this council. 'It is extraordinary that, despite warnings, Titchfield Festival Theatre chose to build a 450-seat theatre without planning permission. I want to reassure all residents that this council will act against any development carried out without planning permission and deemed unacceptable in planning terms.' The council added that theatre use 'must cease' within two months, although this will be paused if there is an appeal against the High Court's decision.
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Shakespeare 'would be turning in his grave' after local council orders £1.7million theatre built without planning permission to be demolished
A theatre company has claimed Shakespeare would be 'turning in his grave' after a local council ordered it to tear down its £1.7million stage and auditorium. The Arden, the newest of three stages at Titchfield Festival Theatre in Hampshire, is still hosting performances despite being declared illegal by a planning inspector in August 2024. The theatre lost a High Court appeal against an order to close the stage. The 450-seat theatre recently held performances of The Sound of Music over Easter and is still due to host productions next month. An enforcement notice by Fareham Borough Council said the land only had planning permission for storage and there was no lawful use for a theatre. Kevin Fraser, artistic director of the theatre company told The Times Shakespeare would be 'turning in his grave' after he was told to tear the theatre down. He added: 'I am clearly broken hearted at the decision from the planning Inspectorate. 'The country will lose one of its greatest community arts assets and Shakespeare must be turning in his grave.' The theatre said the council was pursuing a 'vendetta' against it and has started an online petition to save the stage, with already 6,000 signatures. The theatre company has a link to Shakespeare through Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, who lived on the family estate at Titchfield Abbey near Fareham and was a patron of the playwright. Mr Fraser said they took legal advice before they began construction of the stage. He claims he was advised that the company could claim 'deemed permission' for full theatre use, arguing that after ten years if a decision has not been made it is deemed to have been acceptable. The High Court did not agree and ruled in favour of the inspector who said the Arden theatre was effectively a new unit for planning purposes. Titchfield Festival Theatre has operated out of a converted barn for 13 years and claims to be the largest community theatre in Europe. After two failed attempts to gain planning permission to convert a storage space into a theatre in 2019, Mr Fraser decided to start building the Arden theatre in August 2022. Since 2013 it has hosted performances, in November that year the council took action against the building. Mr Fraser called the planning committee 'Scrooges' as he then launched an appeal against the decision by the Planning Inspectorate. Nick Walker, chairman of the planning committee, said: 'It beggars belief that anyone would build a new 450-seat theatre without first securing planning permission.' An application for a 567-seat theatre was rejected by Fareham Borough Council in 2019. Another application was also rejected later that year. In their objection, councillors said the site was unsustainable and in a 'poorly accessible location'. The council added that a lack of adequate parking would cause an increase in disruption and noise for neighbours. In a statement, Titchfield Festival Theatre said: 'The trustees are obviously disappointed with the ruling from the Judicial Review. We are taking further legal advice on the potential outcomes. In the meantime the Arden Theatre continues to operate.'
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Theatre without planning permission loses appeal
A theatre complex has lost a High Court appeal against an order to close one of its venues that was built without planning permission. The Arden, the newest of three stages at Titchfield Festival Theatre in Hampshire, is continuing to host performances despite being declared illegal by a planning inspector in August 2024. The High Court upheld the inspector's decision, which followed an enforcement notice by Fareham Borough Council. It said the land had no lawful use as a theatre. Previously, the theatre accused the council of pursuing a "vendetta" against it. It organised an online "Save Festival Theatre" petition, attracting more than 6,000 signatures. Artistic director Kevin Fraser previously told the BBC: "We took very strong legal advice before we even put a spade in the ground. "After 10 years there is a thing called 'deemed permission' within planning law, and our legal advice was that we could claim deemed permission for that full theatre use." However, the High Court ruled the inspector did not err in law when she ruled that the 463-seat Arden theatre was effectively a new unit for planning purposes. Neil Cameron KC, sitting as a deputy judge, also dismissed other appeal grounds, including over the wording of the enforcement notice. In August 2024, the theatre was told it must cease performances within two months. It was given seven months to fill in the orchestra pit and dismantle the stage, seating and sound and lighting equipment. However, in November the theatre was granted permission to appeal, and said it considered the planning enforcement to be on hold. The Arden is currently hosting a production of The Sound of Music and has plans for performances up to 17 May, according to its website. In a statement, Titchfield Festival Theatre said: "The trustees are obviously disappointed with the ruling from the Judicial Review. "We are taking further legal advice on the potential outcomes. In the meantime the Arden Theatre continues to operate." Fareham Borough Council has been approached for comment. Follow BBC South on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Send your story ideas to or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2240. Theatre boss 'heartbroken' by planning decision Curtain falls on theatre without planning permission New 450-seat theatre built without permission Titchfield Festival Theatre Fareham Borough Council
