Farnham Rep - About Farnham Rep (original) (raw)

Farnham Rep is the company which brings
professional theatre to Farnham every year.

Patrons: Tamara Ustinov and Hannah Gordon

The company exists to perform high quality professional theatre to the many thousands of theatre lovers who live in or visit the area. Farnham Rep's audiences travel across the region to see its performances.

The company's brief includes performing new plays, community involvement and educational outreach in the area.

The productions are directed by professional theatre directors and acted by professional actors, with volunteer actors taking many of the smaller roles. Volunteers also perform all the support activities such as set construction, publicity, box office, refreshments and front of house.

The company was founded by Ian Mullins, the first Artistic Director of the Redgrave Theatre, and started life as the New Farnham Repertory Company, whose main aim had been the reopening of the Redgrave, and its restoration to the people of Farnham. Its patrons are Hannah Gordon and Tamara Ustinov.

The original Farnham Repertory Company began life before World War II in a converted barn, the Castle Theatre, whose premises are now occupied by the Zizzi restaurant. In the late '60s a fund-raising campaign was mounted for a purpose-built theatre in the town. The result was the Redgrave Theatre, which opened in 1973, paid for largely by public subscription.

In 1998 the landlord, Waverley Borough Council, closed the Redgrave following financial losses made during its final years when a much-criticised artistic policy failed to impress its regular audience.

Without a theatre in Farnham for the first time in over 60 years, Farnham Rep is forced to perform its seasons in a variety of venues, most notably a Grand Marquee set up on various sites around the town, and local churches.

While Farnham Rep performs some small scale theatrical productions and one off entertainments at the Farnham Maltings, it is mutually agreed that it is unsuitable for full scale theatrical seasons.

The campaign for a theatre in Farnham, new or restored Redgrave, is now being championed by two other groups, Farnham Theatre Association & Performers Together, while Farnham Rep focuses all its energy on producing high quality drama in local venues and at affordable prices. Want to volunteer?

Farnham Rep supports the Farnham Theatre Association, whose mission is to ensure a community theatre flourishes in Farnham.

Prior to its demolition FTA was committed to saving the Redgrave, and is now equally committed to ensuring a new and comparable theatre is created.