FTA Banner

Working for a regional theatre in Farnham

Midsummer Night’s Feast of Entertainment was a great night to remember for the 100 attendees.

The Farnham Theatre Association (FTA) was formed in 2005 to take over the campaign from the New Farnham Repertory Company (now Farnham Rep) to save the Redgrave Theatre or to see it replaced in the town. The theatre, which was closed in 1999, is due to be demolished in 2011 as part of Crest Nicholson Sainsbury's proposed regeneration of East Street. Waverley Borough Council, which owns the theatre, gave planning permission for its demolition in 2008, but the development has stalled due to the financial crisis. The FTA campaigns to re-establish a working theatre as part of Farnham’s cultural heritage, a vision entirely in accord with what residents say they want. It will recognise the leisure needs of the area’s expanding population and also of visitors and tourists to our historic town... to benefit ALL the community.(continued below)

 

FTA's Intention

Our intention is to open a theatre which will attract professional and amateur productions, dance, music and entertainment of all types and for all ages. The building will also support educational projects, conferences, exhibitions and many kinds of community cultural events.

FTA became a company limited by guarantee in 2007; Farnham Theatre Association Ltd. is a non-profit making voluntary working group, formed to provide the basis of a charitable trust which will be able to run the theatre in its developing and final form.

Famous actors supporting FTA's vision

Lord Richard Attenborough       Dame Judi Dench

                Lord Attenborough and Dame Judi Dench

Maureen Lipman CBE       Jemma Redgrave

              Maureen Lipman CBE and Jemma Redgrave

Graham Norton       Christopher Timothy
                      Graham Norton and Christopher Timothy

James Bolam and Sue Jameson       Abigail McKern and Sue Jameson

James Bolam and Sue Jameson   Abigail McKern and Sue Jameson at FTA Launch

Abigail McKern              Kika Mirylees

               Abigail McKern and Kika Mirylees

Geraldine McEwanRichard CorderyRoy Hudd

               Geraldine McEwan - Richard Cordery - Roy Hudd

Michael Simkins

Michael Simkins

Signatories to the letter to Sir Tom Hunter

LORD RICHARD ATTENBOROUGH - Film Maker
MICHAEL BILLINGTON - Theatre Critic The Guardian Newspaper
JAMES BOLAM - Actor
STEPHANIE COLE MBE - Actor
PAUL CONNOLLY KSG (letter attached)
LOUIS DOWNS - National Theatre Student Rep. and UCCA SU Campaigns Officer
DOMINIC DROMGOOLE - Artistic Director Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
ATHERTON HARRISON - National Trust Costume Curator (rtd.)
GERALDINE JAMES OBE - Actor
SUSAN JAMESON - Actor
ALEX JENNINGS - Actor
JANE MANNING OBE, D.Mus. Dunelm, D. Mus. Keele, D. Univ. (York), FRAM, FRCM
WARREN MITCHELL - Actor
ANTHONY PAYNE - D. Mus. Dunelm, D. Mus. Birmingham, D. Mus. Kingston, FRCM
PETER STARK - Hon. D. Mus., Hon. ARAM, GRSM, ARCM.
Professor of Conducting RCM, Leverhulme Professor of Conducting National Youth
Orchestra, Artistic Director West of England Philarmonic Orchestra.
ZOE WANAMAKER - Actor
JUDITH WEIR CBE - Composer

A theatre for the community

Other people can and do get their local theatre saved, or a new one built. They achieve their great aims and we can too. It’s not impossible. Remember, we are not alone in our fight to get The Redgrave or its equivalent in place for residents now, and for all our descendants.

White


Andrew Lodge Logo