Theatres in Farnham, on the Surrey Hampshire border
The Castle Theatre / Farnham Playhouse - The Redgrave Theatre
The Castle Theatre, Castle Street, Farnham
Formerly - The Farnham Playhouse
Above - The Castle Theatre, Farnham, Formerly the Farnham Playhouse - Courtesy Alan Chudley.
The Castle Theatre was situated through an alley off Castle Street,
Farnham and originally opened as the Farnham Playhouse on the
5th of December 1939. The Theatre would be renamed the Castle Theatre a few years later in 1941.
Right - A Sketch of the Foyer of the Castle Theatre by Marshall Barnes who was a local artist and set designer there in the 1950s - Courtesy Peter Hunter, Farnham Theatre Association.
The Castle Theatre was closed in 1974 and sold and converted
into a restaurant, today a branch of the Zizzi Pizza Chain, see image left.
Left - A Google StreetView Image of the Alley Entrance to the former Castle Theatre, Farnham in April 2023, today a branch of Zizzi - Click to Interact.
A contemporary photograph of the Castle Theatre can be seen on the Farnham Town Council website here. After it was closed the Castle Theatre was replaced by the new purpose built Redgrave Theatre on East Street, Farnham which opened on the 29th of May 1974.
The Redgrave Theatre was closed in 1998 and, despite much campaigning by local residents, was demolished in 2019. For more information on the Redgrave Theatre see further down on this page. An Article on the Castle Theatre by Alan Chudley follows.
Rep on a Shoestring - The Castle Theatre Farnham 1939 - 1974
An Article by Alan Chudley, 2007
A much loved but little known Theatre was The Castle Theatre, Farnham
which served this small market town on the Surrey - Hampshire border
from 1939 until replaced by the Redgrave Theatre in May of 1974.
The Theatre was housed in what was once a 16th century barn, said to be haunted by a disappointed lover; Jolly Jack Tar, who, having spent several years in the Navy sailing the seven seas, returned to Farnham to claim the hand of his beloved, only to find her married to another, he is thought to have hanged himself in the building. So just like any other theatre worth its salt, the Castle Theatre had a ghost. Within living memory the building had been used as a Army Bath House, A Cinema, A Roller Skating Rink, A Fruit Drinks Factory and last but not least, a Dancing School.
Right - A Programme for 'Pygmalion' at the Farnham Playhouse in 1940. The Theatre would become known as the Castle Theatre the following year - Courtesy Dai Lesty.
Just after the start of World War Two, Laurence Ray and his "English Classical Players," who had been touring Europe, found themselves all dressed up and nowhere to go. Stopping overnight in Farnham, they saw the former Cinema, rented the building and set about turning it into a 176 seat theatre. No way would the Surrey County Council license the building as a public theatre, so it had to operate as a private members theatre club. Laurence Ray opened the Farnham Playhouse on the 5th of December 1939 with; "You Never can Tell" and they gave a 27 week season ending with; "Dangerous Alibi."
Above - A Photograph of a scene from act two of 'Hayfever' at the Farnham Playhouse - Courtesy Dai Lesty.
The
next season was not until November 1941, by which time the Theatre had
been renamed The Castle Theatre and the company was The Farnham Company.
Their first play was; "Ladies in Retirement." Then with many
changes of management structure and Artistic Directors this was more
or less the way of things to come until the final production; "Free
as Air" early in 1974.
Left
and Right - A Farnham Repertory Company Programme for 'Castle in the
Air' at the Castle Theatre, Farnham. - Courtesy Alan
Chudley.
It must be remembered that at this time there were no public subsidies plus the fact the Entertainment tax, introduced during the first world war and not rescinded for many years to come, was paid on each ticket sold, and it was not until 1948 that The Farnham Repertory Company was, being a nonprofit distributing company, exempted from this tax.
Seat prices at this time were, 3/6 - 2/6 - 1/6, for the play and a free Gramophone recital. The average weekly take about this time was £108, and the average weekly expenses£125. The difference being made up by denotations from well-wishers, who also provided front of house staff and made cakes for sale in the Theatre's Coffee Bar.
Above - A Photograph of a scene from 'She Stoops to Conquer' at the Farnham Playhouse - Courtesy Dai Lesty.
On
the 19th May 1948, The Farnham Repertory Co Ltd was launched with 100
shares, the reason for this was that the post war Labour Government
had allowed local councils to raise a sixpenny rate to pay for the arts,
but the Farnham Repertory Company Co Ltd, did not benefit very much
from this law. Soon after, Donald O'Mally, the then artistic director,
had a very serious disagreement with the management and resigned, taking
most of his company with him.
Right - A Farnham Repertory Company Programme for 'Castle in the Air' at the Castle Theatre, Farnham - Courtesy Alan Chudley.
A New company under the artistic direction of Peter Gordon was formed and opened with"The Circle." Things began to look upwards and the play made a profit of just over £30, and around this time several players joined the company who later were to make their name on Television, including Peter Byrne, Heather Chasen and Gerald Flood, and Farnham playgoers enjoyed a period of excellent theatre.
In April 1951 Peter Gordon resigned to became a freelance
director, and was replaced by Tim Hudson who came from the repertory
company at the Preston Hippodrome.
What a difference Tim Hudson must have found, the Preston Hippodrome
was a very large theatre and one of the three remaining Theatres of
"The Bread & Butter Circuit." This circuit founded by William Broadhead had in its heyday
17 theatres.
Left - A 1939 advertisement for the Farnham Playhouse - Courtesy Alan Chudley.
Above - A Production Photograph of 'Castle Music Hall' at the Castle Theatre, Farnham - Courtesy Alan Chudley - Peter Honri is extreme left and two from the right is Granville Saxton.
The
Castle Theatre, by contrast was no bigger than a tennis court, with
the stage bigger than the 176 seat auditorium. You could stand on a
beer crate and touch the ceiling of the stage, which meant that only
8 feet high flats could be used. The lighting was a motley collection
of 250 Watt Spotlights and 100 Watt float spotlights controlled by a
very small Strand bracket handled switchboard. Tim Hudson had asked
for a company of 6 actors, 6 actress's and a stage crew of 3, in fact,
he inherited a company who numbered 11 in total.
Right - Production Photograph of 'Free As Air' at the Castle Theatre, Farnham - Courtesy Alan Chudley.
By comparison, when the Redgrave Theatre opened in May 1974 with just a little more then twice the Castle Theatres seating capacity, there was a thrust stage with a revolving centre, there were no flys but suspension was possible from beams 22 feet over the stage, there was an 80 way Strand Threeset lighting control and a large compliment of CCT spotlights, and there were between 40 and 50 people on the Redgrave payroll.
In March 1971, there was another connection with the Bread and Butter Circuit when William Broadhead's Great Grandson, Peter Honri devised and appeared in "Castle Music Hall" ( Peter is second from the right in the production photograph shown above Centre.) Musicals were something the Farnham Repertory Company excelled in, and still remembered are, "Me and My Girl," "Salad Days," "Free as Air," and at the Redgrave; "The Fantastics," and "Carbaret." And I am by no means alone in preferring the Farnham musicals to the Musicals presented in the West End of London.
Above - A Photograph of a scene from 'Suspect' at the Farnham Playhouse - Courtesy Dai Lesty.
On a personal note I was offered the post as Master Carpenter at the Castle Theatre in 1970, I could not accept this post as the salary offered was well below the salary I was receiving as a joiner in the workshops of the now defunct firm of R Holford & Co Ltd. It was this firm that built the Redgrave Theatre, so I was involved in the building of the Redgrave Theatre too.
The above article on the Castle Theatre was written and sent in for inclusion on this site by Alan Chudley in 2007.
The Redgrave Theatre, East Street, Farnham
Introduction - The Redgrave Theatre Appeal - Later History and Demolition
Above - The Redrave Theatre in the spring of 1975 - Courtesy Peter Hunter, Farnham Theatre Association.
The
Redgrave Theatre, in East Street, Farnham was opened by Princess Margaret
on the 29th of May 1974 with a production of "Romeo & Juliet."
This was a modern, purpose built Theatre, built to replace the Castle
Theatre, Farnham, and named after the actor Sir Michael Redgrave.
Right - The opening night programme for the Redgrave Theatre; 'Romeo & Juliet' on the 29th of May 1974.
The Redgrave was a very busy little Theatre in its short life with regular repertory seasons and a multitude of plays and Musical productions staged there.
The opening night programme however, shows how tough it can be to run a small provincial Theatre and turn a profit, as they were already appealing for funds right from the start, see details below. For details of the Theatre's later history and its eventual demolition see here.
Above - Architects drawings from Redgrave Theatre Publicity handouts - Courtesy Alan Chudley.
The Redgrave Theatre Appeal
From the Theatre's opening night programme on the 29th of May 1974
Above - A Postcard View of the Redgrave Theatre in the 1970 - Courtesy Peter Hunter, Farnham Theatre Association.
The Redgrave Theatre has been funded largely
through the goodwill of the community which it serves. Many of you will
have already subscribed to the Redgrave Theatre Appeal, and feel justly
proud of the result.
Right - A Programme for "Twelfth Night" at the Redgrave Theatre, Farnham in March 1984 - Courtesy Alan Chudley.
A theatre, however, is very much like a house in that not only does it require maintenance, but there are always additions to the furnishings and equipment which have to be made from time to time. In view of this, and also of the fact that there is a financial gap, albeit small, to be bridged to meet the initial cost, this theatre is still in need of funds.
If
you have not contributed, and would like to do so, may I recommend the
following worthwhile and valuable ways of helping:
A covenant of £10 per annum for seven years, or a donation of £100, makes the donor a FOUNDER MEMBER, with PRIORITY BOOKING FACILITIES.
A covenant of £15 p.a. for seven years, or donation of £150 gives the donor the additional right to NAME A SEAT in the theatre.
Left - A Programme for "Cabaret" at the Redgrave Theatre, Farnham - Courtesy Alan Chudley.
A covenant of £100 p.a. for seven years, or a donation of £1,000 or more, makes the donor a BENEFACTOR of the theatre.
I hope you enjoy the theatre: please come again, Michael Griffiths.
The above article is from the opening night programme for the Redrave Theatre on the 29th of May 1974.
Above - The Redgrave Theatre Auditorium and Stage - From the now defunct Strand Electric publication 'Tabs'. The stage setting is of the opening Redgrave Theatre production of 'Romeo & Juliet' in May 1974 - Courtesy Alan Chudley.
The Redgrave Theatre - Later History and Demolition
The Theatre did prove to be quite successful over the years but by the 1990s everything began to change, repertory was abandoned
and after closing down completely for a while Waverley Borough Council
took over the Theatre and begun showing films and housing various plays
there with scant interest from the locals.
Right - The Redgrave Theatre's Stage Management Control - From the now defunct Strand Electric publication "Tabs" in 1974 - Courtesy Alan Chudley.
By
1998 the Theatre had closed for good and the Council decided that the
Theatre was of no more use and produced plans to demolish the building.
However, the Farnham Theatre Association (FTA), which was formed in 2005
then took on the fight to save the Redgrave or to at least make sure that
it was replaced in the town.
Left - A Programme for "The Rivals" at the Redgrave Theatre, Farnham - Courtesy Alan Chudley.
They raised £12,000 for a theatre report and business
study by a leading theatre consultant to demonstrate that a theatre
in Farnham could still be viable even without Local Authority funding. The
FTA said that Waverley Borough Council had received over 2,000 objections
three times in the last year to each of the developers sets of plans
for the demolition of the Redgrave which were proposed by Crest Nicholson
Sainsbury. Some photos of the Theatre in its derelict state in 2016 can be seen here.
Right - A Programme for "The Entertainer" at the Redgrave Theatre, Farnham - Courtesy Alan Chudley.
Sadly the FTA's efforts to save the Theatre didn't succeed in the end, even after a 25 year fight, and the Redgrave Theatre was demolished in 2019. The Farnham Theatre Association still wants to see it replaced and has won the support of local councils but whether it ever comes to fruition remains to be seen.
The above FTA information is courtesy Anne Cooper (Chairman FTA Ltd.)
Above - A Google StreetView Image of the Redgrave Theatre in September 2010 - Click to Interact.