Harlequin Theatre & Cinema Update
On Thursday 15 August 2024, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council’s Executive met to decide on an immediate way forward for leisure and cultural provision in the borough whilst the Harlequin Theatre and Cinema is closed, following the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC concrete) in September 2023.
At the meeting, the Executive agreed the recommended options (Option 1), which included ceasing the existing interim provision to focus on developing a business case for a medium-term cultural offering for the borough (based in Redhill if possible) which will be reported to Executive in early 2025. This means that the Harlequin’s staff team will be reduced to a core team of two to three staff who will work on developing the business case.
Cllr Richard Biggs, Council Leader: “We recognise the strength of feeling that many local residents share about the Harlequin and understand their concerns. Our commitment to the arts is not in question. Last night’s meeting was specifically to consider options and decide on the course of action that the Council needs to take now with the building currently unable to be used.
“We did not anticipate being in this situation. Since the building’s closure, officers have been working closely with external partners to establish the implications of RAAC and respective responsibilities, as well as working innovatively to ensure that some arts activities could continue, albeit not in the usual way.
“This decision recognises the need to use public money appropriately and therefore focus on developing sustainable plans for a future cultural offering while the Harlequin building remains closed.
“We are sorry that this means that most of our loyal, hardworking staff will now be at risk of redundancy. We are committed to working closely with those affected, including looking for alternative roles where possible. We know this has been and will continue to be a difficult time for them, especially as many have been with us for a long time. I thank them for their expertise, dedication and innovation.
“Work to explore potential options for the medium-term is already well underway, including, looking at the type of cultural offer that the Harlequin could provide in another Redhill town centre unit, and considering the potential to work in partnership with another organisation, such as a school. All options present their own opportunities, challenges and financial considerations, and not all will be viable upon further investigation.
“In working up the options, we will engage with local stakeholders, including existing and potential users of art and cultural spaces, residents, customers and others.
“We plan to hold an event in the autumn to listen to and understand community needs to help us shape the offer. We’ll publish the date of this meeting and how to get involved nearer the time.”
At the meeting an update was given on the status of the RAAC survey plans. Officers met with representatives of the head leaseholder on 7 August 2024. Plans for further survey work, in what is a complex structure, were discussed and work is being undertaken to refine those plans including the timelines for the required survey work as soon as possible. A long-term decision regarding the Harlequin in the Warwick Quadrant will depend on the outcome of further RAAC survey work.
View the webcast here: https://reigate-banstead.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/898539
Link to Executive reports, outlining the reasons for the recommendations: Agenda for Executive on Thursday, 15th August, 2024, 6.30 pm | Reigate and Banstead Borough Council (moderngov.co.uk)
Link to statement issued on 7 August 2024 on proposal for Leisure and Cultural provision: Recommendation published ahead of Council Executive to discuss The Harlequin Theatre & Cinema | Reigate and Banstead (reigate-banstead.gov.uk)
Published 7th August
On Thursday 15 August, the Executive of Reigate & Banstead Borough Council will meet to discuss options for the future of The Harlequin Theatre & Cinema. The recommended option put to the Executive is to cease the current Harlequin arts and cultural activities and focus on the development of a business case for a medium-term cultural offer.
We shut the doors to the theatre in September 2023 after the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). We hoped it would be a temporary closure, but due to the extent of the RAAC identified so far and the complex structure of the building, we do not expect to be able to re-open the theatre in the foreseeable future.
Keen to keep access to the arts alive while the building has been closed, the Council’s theatre team delivered the successful Big Top Panto in Memorial Park and is delivering its regular ‘Harlequin Outdoors’ summer programme in Reigate’s Castle Grounds. We also opened the Harlequin Pop-Up in The Belfry shopping centre, Redhill, which has hosted some small live performances, workshops and meetings, but is limited by constraints such as size.
Cllr Nadean Moses, Executive Member for Sustainability and Leisure explains “Ourcommitment to providing an arts and cultural offer in the medium and long–term remainsstrong. However, whilst the theatre is closed, we need to rationalise our costs and focus our efforts on developing future options.
“Therefore, in the short term, the recommendation is to concentrate our efforts on exploring opportunities for future arts and culture in our borough, with no future events scheduled after the Outdoor Theatre programme finishes on 7 September. This would significantly reduce our operating costs.
“We propose to engage with local stakeholders, including existing and potential users of art and cultural spaces, residents, customers and others in developing the offer.
“If the recommendation is adopted, many of our loyal, hardworking staff would be impactedand sadly some formally put at risk of redundancy. Our priority is to continue to work closelywith them regarding what the changes would mean for them and their roles.”
The Executive report, to be debated by Executive Members on Thursday 15 August, outlines reasons for the recommendation. Communication of a final decision will follow.