A Surrey theatre with “important possibility” concrete in its construction may take as much as 5 years to reopen, a council says.
Redhill’s Harlequin Theatre has been closed since September 2023, when bolstered autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) used to be came upon within the construction.
It’s going to probably stay closed till 2030 whilst Reigate and Banstead Borough Council (RBBC), which owns the theatre, carries out the £10m protection refurbishment paintings, mentioned the Native Democracy Reporting Carrier.
Council chief Richard Biggs mentioned: “I perceive the sturdy feeling and passion in resolving this example on the Harlequin.”
He mentioned: “The important crimson nature of the Raac panels implies that that is going to take a little time to get to the bottom of.
“With a bit of luck two to 3 years, perhaps as much as 5 years to get it again.”
The closure of the Harlequin Theatre pressured the council to have a look at offering trade venues however early searches to discover a 500-seat venue have up to now proved fruitless.
The council has nonetheless now not dominated out the opportunity of discovering a bigger venue however says it’s much more likely that the humanities neighborhood should accept one thing not up to part that dimension.
Mr Biggs added: “If we have now were given to spend the cash I wish to spend it instantly on getting the Harlequin again up and operating.”
RBCC says it’s searching for a spread of websites to fulfil the theatre construction’s roles, together with a restaurant, audition areas and function venues.
