Concrete to keep theatre closed for two years

The future of the theatre has been in doubt for years

A Surrey theatre is expected to stay closed for at least another two years, a council has announced.

Redhill's Harlequin Theatre suddenly closed in 2023 after it was found to be riddled with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), which can pose safety risks.

The future of the theatre, cinema and community space has hung in the balance ever since.

But Reigate and Banstead Borough Council has said it expects the theatre to reopen in late spring 2027 if everything goes to plan.

The local authority said it will set aside £4.5m to remove the RAAC from the theatre's roof.

Senior councillors have said this move will eliminate the risk of it having to close again.

Plans to modernise the building, which could have run alongside repair works as part of a previously announced £10m project, have been put on hold, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

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.

Councillor Ben Green, portfolio holder for finance and assets, said the local authority would "authorise work as soon as possible", though it "may not be able to make a decision that everyone is going to agree with".

He added the "elephant in the room" was that "many people had been justifiably upset or angry with the council's delay in dealing with the RAAC issue".

"There is no escaping that this matter is complicated to resolve," Mr Green added.

The decision was broadly supported by opposition groups.