Harlequin Theatre & Cinema

In October 2024 we held five drop-in engagement events across the borough to better understand the needs relating to arts, cultural space and activities. We also welcomed people’s views via an online and paper copy survey.

Thank you to the 160 people who attended the events and to the 600 people who completed a questionnaire. We appreciate your time.

Results from the engagement activities:

• presentation summary of results (PDF)
• written summary of results

Key feedback included:

• Strong feeling that the Council should fund the provision, although some respondents had the opposite view
• The importance of the Harlequin’s location and the variety of its programme (encompassing professional and community performances)
• Frustration with Council progress, leading to negative perceptions of the Council
• Strong views that Council should move forward with repairing and reopening the Harlequin, with a small number of comments opposing this view
• Strong theme that the Harlequin was a community hub, but mixed views on whether the Harlequin’s cinema should be retained
• An appetite for more professional theatre events, including more ‘big ticket’ acts
• Some people highlighted the negative impact of the current Harlequin closure on the local Redhill economy

Since November we have been in direct contact with previous users of the Harlequin to revisit their previous requirements and see if and how we can meet their needs with the various interim options for art and culture we may be able to offer.

As agreed by the Council’s Executive on 30 January 2025, options currently being worked on include:

• Progressing work to explore the creation of a circa 200-seater performance venue in The Rise, a modern new development in the centre of Redhill, which could cater for commercial and community hirers for the next three to five year and potentially beyond
• Facilitating part time use of performance space in local schools or colleges and Horley Community Centre
• Supporting eligible previous community hirers with alternative rehearsal and performance space through small enabling grants on a one-year pilot basis, subject to annual budget approval, with the potential to extend

We will provide updates on the above as we are able.

Contact

Email: Harlequin@reigate-banstead.gov.uk