Theatre fears 'may be valid'

9:55am Monday 24th September 2007

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FEARS over the future of The Harlequin theatre in Redhill may be valid, according to the borough's leisure councillor, although he stressed rumours about the venue's future "have become carried away".

Cllr Tom Stoddart said he feared an action plan being drawn up for the town's regeneration might not include a theatre.

The Harlequin Users Group is also concerned after the council refused to guarantee a subsidy for the venue beyond 2011 but the councillor insisted that was only because budgets had not been drawn up beyond that date.

Chris Waite, chairman of The Harlequin Users Group, who is also on the theatre's board, said: "At the moment the councillors are saying to us that funding for the theatre is too great for council coffers and there is a great possibility the theatre will close.

"It is only guaranteed to be funded until 2011. No local theatre can survive without subsidy but neither would a swimming pool. We have already got a petition of around 7,000 to 8,000 signatures which we will be presenting to the council."

Cllr Stoddart said: "The reason the subsidy cannot be guaranteed is because the budget has only been put forward until 2011.

"In terms of Chris Waite and the user group I think their concerns are valid. The Redhill action plan is being created and is on the verge of public consultation.

"It may come back and say there is no place for a theatre in the borough. I would like to think not, but my fear would be that the people in the group formulating the plan would think a cinema might be more appropriate than a theatre. Personally I think a theatre would be more appropriate."

The Warwick Quadrant is owned by Reigate and Banstead Borough Council and The Harlequin has a 125-year lease which began in 1986. More than 200,000 people attend its performances each year and the borough council subsidises the venue with £400,000 annually.

The regeneration of Redhill has been identified as one of the council's key objectives and it is currently formulating an all-encompassing framework to steer the process.

Cllr Stoddart agreed the theatre played an important part in tackling social problems in the town centre. He said: "Something we are increasingly trying to do at The Harlequin is fund ways they can engage with the youth of the town.

"I think also what follows from that is some of the alcohol controls in Redhill may help bring people back into the town. If they do a facelift on the Warwick Quadrant I think it will be a more enticing place for everyone. One of the problems is than some residents do not want to go into Redhill in the evenings. If we can make it more appealing then it will follow that the theatre will become more profitable."

Cllr Julian Ellacott, a member of The Harlequin board, said: "In terms of the petition, we will take into account such a strong expression of feeling, and we will also be taking in the views of the wider public once we have clear options for the future of the town centre.

"We met with the Users Group on August 13, and they attended the Harlequin Board last Wednesday. We are doing all we can to keep them included in discussions over possible redevelopment of The Harlequin site."