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Council earmarks £10m to rebuild theatre closed by RAAC

Arts Professional
1 min read

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council has approved spending of up to £10m to support “cultural offerings” in the area. This includes the reopening of Redhill’s Harlequin Theatre, which closed in September 2023 after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was discovered in the building.

Current forecasts indicate the theatre could be closed for another five years.

The council has agreed to a report due in June that will examine the feasibility of an alternative performance venue while remediation works take place at the Harlequin.

Council leader Richard Biggs said, “Whatever we do, we are rebuilding it. It’s a rebuilding process that we’ve got to go through.”

He 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.”