The Stage

Rescue the Redgrave

Published Tuesday 4 May 2004 at 09:30

June 12 is the 30th anniversary of the Royal Gala Opening of the Redgrave Theatre in Farnham, Surrey. Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon attended the opening production which was Romeo and Juliet.

The very first voice to be heard in the new theatre was Sir Michael Redgrave. Sir Michael had earlier buried a time capsule beneath the theatre as it was being built. Now, just 30 years later, Waverley Borough Council plan to bring in bulldozers to demolish the theatre as part of a development scheme.

Five years ago, the New Farnham Repertory Company was formed to try to persuade the Waverley councillors to think again. We tried petitions and demonstrations, we held endless meetings and wrote thousands of letters. We eventually played the card we know best and produced three seasons of plays either outdoors or in a marquee outside The Redgrave.

We are about to stage two more professional productions - Our Town, to be performed in a nearby church, and Charley’s Aunt in a marquee, again, outside the Redgrave. But still Waverley Borough Council is adamant that the building will come down and planning permission for demolition will be given some time this summer.

We urgently need the help of the acting profession if we are to stop this act of cultural vandalism.

On June 12 at 12 noon we are holding a symbolic march around the graffiti-covered, boarded-up Redgrave Theatre. We will ring the theatre with garlands of flowers to indicate that a rejuvenated theatre could become the “jewel in the crown” of the new development - if only the councillors would see sense!

We are calling on resting actors, directors, producers, in fact all who work in theatre, or who enjoy going to the theatre, to join us outside the Redgrave on Saturday June 12 at 12 noon. If you cannot come to Farnham, please send postcards, letters, text messages or emails to the Waverley Borough councillors - or telephone them, anything you can think of to make them realise that we will not accept without a fight the desecration of our small provincial theatres.

It is essential that we get help from other theatres and the support of major players in the profession as well as from students in the drama schools.

Please telephone on 01483 523333, email to enquiries@waverley.gov.uk, or write to: Waverley Borough Council, The Burys, Godalming, GU7 1HR.

Graham Bye

Email: graham@ozuk1.deom.co.uk