Harlequin Theatre & Cinema

The Harlequin Theatre & Cinema is a vibrant arts and entertainment venue in Redhill, Surrey, United Kingdom. Designed as a cultural hub to host a range of live shows, screenings and community events, it comprises a main auditorium, a boutique cinema, three spacious meeting rooms, a licensed bistro café and exhibition space. The main auditorium has retractable tiered seating for an audience of 494, with space for a 30-piece orchestra and 40 artists backstage. The venue is owned by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council and was built as a multi-purpose theatre and arts complex in the heart of Redhill town centre's Warwick Quadrant. It opened in December 1986 with its first pantomime, starring Sally Thompsett as Cinderella. Architectural firm Building Design Projects and theatre consultant J. Wyckham Associates were responsible for the original 1980s design, which incorporated a striking red-painted canopy. The venue underwent extensive refurbishment in the early 2000s, but the red façade remained intact for 30 years until it was replaced in 2016 with a modern glass and steel structure as part of the ongoing regeneration of Redhill town centre. The theatre's name originates from a comic servant character created for the commedia dell'arte, an Italian theatrical form popular in Europe from the 16th to 18th centuries. The character wore a fitted costume decorated with coloured diamonds and a black mask with quizzically arched eyebrows, and this influence is reflected in the venue's branding over the years. Joanna Lumley and Jenny Agutter attended the launch of the Harlequin cinema. In recent years, the Harlequin Theatre & Cinema has been temporarily closed due to the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), with further information available via the Reigate & Banstead Borough Council website.

The Harlequin Theatre & Cinema opened its doors in December 1986 with its very first pantomime, starring Sally Thompsett as Cinderella. The venue is owned by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council and was built as a multi-purpose theatre and arts complex in the heart of Redhill town centre's Warwick Quadrant. Architectural firm Building Design Projects and theatre consultant J. Wyckham Associates were responsible for the original 1980s design, which incorporated a striking red-painted canopy. The venue underwent extensive refurbishment in the early 2000s, but the red façade remained intact for 30 years until it was replaced in 2016 with a modern glass and steel structure as part of the ongoing regeneration of Redhill town centre. The theatre's name originates from a comic servant character created for the commedia dell'arte, an Italian theatrical form popular in Europe from the 16th to 18th centuries. The character wore a fitted costume decorated with coloured diamonds and a black mask with quizzically arched eyebrows, and this influence is reflected in the venue's branding over the years. Joanna Lumley and Jenny Agutter attended the launch of the Harlequin cinema. Key dates in the venue's history include the 1986 grand opening, the 1997 cinema launch party, the 2002 original red canopy, the 2019 Waller Studio refurbishment, and the 2020 Community Support Centre. In recent years, the Harlequin Theatre & Cinema has been temporarily closed due to the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), with further information available via the Reigate & Banstead Borough Council website.

• 2020

  Community Support Centre.

• 2019

  Waller Studio refurbishment.

• 2016

  Red façade replaced with a modern glass and steel structure as part of Redhill town centre regeneration.

• 2002

  Original red canopy.

• 1997

  Cinema launch party, attended by Joanna Lumley and Jenny Agutter.

• 1986

  Grand opening in December with first pantomime, starring Sally Thompsett as Cinderella.

A council-owned cultural hub and community arts venue in Redhill town centre, offering live shows, cinema and events.

• Main auditorium

  Retractable tiered seating for an audience of 494, with space for a 30-piece orchestra and 40 artists backstage.

• Boutique cinema

  A cinema launched in 1997.

• Meeting rooms

  Three spacious meeting rooms.

• Licensed bistro café

  A licensed bistro café on site.

• Exhibition space

  Exhibition space for community events.

1. 1Home - Harlequinharlequintheatre.co.uk
2. 2The Harlequin story - Harlequinharlequintheatre.co.uk
3. 3Harlequin Theatrewikidata.org