£4.5m plan approved for Harlequin Theatre

OPENING DATE SET FOR SPRING 2027 AS COUNCILLORS AGREE THEY 'NEED TO GET THEIR SKATES ON'

- By CHRIS CAULFIELD Local democracy reporter

THE Harlequin Theatre in Redhill finally has a target re-opening date after being forced to suddenly close in 2023 when it was found to be riddled with dangerous crumbly concrete.

The theatre, cinema and community space has been shut since September 2023 when reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was discovered at the Redhill hub.

Since then its future has hung in the balance and in January this year was placed on a national list of venues at risk of permanent closure due to “severe structural or safety issues, or redevelopment proposals”.

Now, finally, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council’s executive agreed a path forward at its Thursday, June 19 meeting - and will set aside £4.5m to remove the RAAC from the theatre's roof in what senior councillors said will eliminate the risk of its doors having to close again.

If everything goes to schedule, the council expects the theatre to reopen in late spring 2027. Plans to modernise the theatre, which could have run concurrently with repair works as part of a previously announced £10m project have been put on hold. The council said it wants to consider whether it should hand over control to a private group.

This, the meeting was told, would save the theatre from any future funding cuts - a situation made more complicated by the impending mergers of councils in Surrey.