Redgrave Theatre, Farnham

The Redgrave Theatre was a theatre in Farnham in Surrey from 1974 to 1998. Named after Michael Redgrave, the theatre had regular repertory seasons and also staged a variety of plays and musical productions until financial difficulties forced it to close. Now derelict, the theatre building and surrounding site is under threat of redevelopment.

A modern, purpose-built theatre designed by architect Frank Rutter, the Redgrave Theatre replaced the Castle Theatre in Farnham which had opened for Farnham Repertory Company in 1941, and which operated as a weekly repertory theatre. Eventually, Farnham Repertory Company outgrew its premises and moved to the newly-built Redgrave Theatre in 1973. The first Artistic Director was Ian Mullins (1929-2014) from 1974 to 1977, followed by David Horlock from 1978 to 1979,Stephen Barry taking the position from 1982 to 1986, Patrick Sandford from 1986 to 1988, Graham Watkins from 1988 to 1994 and Roland Jaquarello from 1994 to 1995.

Located in the town's East Street, the Redgrave Theatre was named after the actor Sir Michael Redgrave who inaugurated the start of the theatre's construction in September 1971.Judi Dench was among the founding members. The theatre officially opened on 29 May 1974 and commenced with a production of Romeo and Juliet attended by Princess Margaret. The Redgrave Theatre was mainly funded by the local community at a cost of £260,000 and was built in the grounds of the Grade II listed Brightwell House, which dates to the 1790s, and is attached to the house itself. Brightwell House supplied a restaurant (the Castle Restaurant) and club room, with offices and dressing rooms above. The Redgrave Theatre was built with an orchestra pit for 10 musicians and with a stage equipped with a permanent revolve. The auditorium is a plain concrete structure, fan shaped in a single rake. The theatre's foyer was extended in 1986 but facilities were limited.

Among those who appeared at the theatre were Zoë Wanamaker, Prunella Scales, Tom Watt, Sandra Payne, Philippa Urquhart, David McAlister, Lisa Bowerman, George Waring, Sean Bean, Leo McKern, Ian Bartholomew, Stephanie Turner, Gareth Thomas, Christopher Timothy, Maureen Lipman, James Bolam, Bernard Holley, Fiona Fullerton, David Hargreaves, Jack McKenzie, Simon Callow, William Gaunt and Rachel Kempson, the widow of Sir Michael Redgrave. The theatre company Cheek by Jowl premiered its production of As You Like It at the theatre in July 1991 before a run at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith. A 1991 production of The Seven Descents of Myrtle at the Redgrave starring Kit Hollerbach as Myrtle, Stephen Hattersley as Chicken and Marc Warren as Lot led to Stephen Hattersley winning Best Actor 1991 in the TMA Awards for his performance.

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